Ever sat in a crowded Lagos viewing center or a bar in Rabat when the CAF Awards are on? The tension is thick enough to cut with a dull knife. You've got fans screaming about "European bias" while others are checking stats on their phones like their lives depend on it. That’s the African Footballer of the Year award for you. It isn't just a trophy; it’s a whole continent’s worth of pride, history, and a fair amount of yelling.
Most people think it’s just about who scored the most goals in the Premier League. Honestly, it’s way messier than that.
The 2025 Shocker and Why It Mattered
If you weren't following the news in late 2025, you missed one of the biggest shifts in recent memory. Achraf Hakimi taking home the 2025 African Footballer of the Year award wasn't just another win for Morocco. It was a statement. He became the first Moroccan to grab the title since Mustapha Hadji back in 1998. Think about that for a second—nearly three decades of waiting.
Hakimi didn't just win because he’s a "flashy wing-back." He was the engine behind Paris Saint-Germain’s historic first Champions League title in the 2024-2025 season. While everyone was looking at Mohamed Salah’s 16 goals for Liverpool or Victor Osimhen’s antics at Galatasaray, Hakimi was redefining what a defender could do.
He beat out Salah and Osimhen in a vote that included coaches, captains, and a panel of experts. It kinda proves that CAF is finally looking past just the "number 9" jersey.
Recent Winners at a Glance
- 2025: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / PSG) – The drought-breaker.
- 2024: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta) – Secured his spot after that ridiculous Europa League final hat-trick.
- 2023: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria / Napoli) – The man who brought the Scudetto back to Naples.
- 2022: Sadio Mané (Senegal / Bayern Munich) – AFCON glory solidified this one.
The Messy History: France Football vs. CAF
Here’s the thing most folks get wrong. They look at the list of winners and see names like Abedi Pele or George Weah appearing multiple times in the early 90s. It’s confusing because, back then, there were actually two different awards.
From 1970 to 1994, France Football magazine ran the show with their African Golden Ball. CAF—the actual governing body of African football—didn't start their official version until 1992. For a few years, you had two "best" players. In 1993, France Football gave it to Abedi Pele, but CAF gave it to the legendary Rashidi Yekini.
It was a total mess until the magazine finally pulled the plug in 1995, once the Ballon d'Or was opened up to non-European players. Basically, that’s how George Weah ended up winning the Ballon d'Or and the African title in the same year.
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Who Actually Decides This?
You might think it’s a secret cabal in a basement in Cairo. Not quite. The voting process for the African Footballer of the Year has evolved, though it still gets plenty of flak.
Currently, the decision comes down to a mix of:
- The CAF Technical Committee.
- Journalists who actually cover the continental game.
- Head coaches and captains of the 54 member associations.
- A group of "Legends" (think Samuel Eto'o or Didier Drogba, though Eto'o has had his own share of drama with CAF recently).
Is it perfect? No way. There’s always the "big league" bias. If you’re playing in the Egyptian Premier League or the South African PSL, you’re almost invisible compared to someone sitting on the bench for Chelsea. That’s why the "Interclub Player of the Year" exists—to give the local heroes their flowers—but we all know which trophy everyone actually cares about.
The "European Born" Factor
It’s an open secret that this award has a complicated relationship with the diaspora. Look at the recent winners. Ademola Lookman was born in Wandsworth, England. Achraf Hakimi was born in Madrid. Riyad Mahrez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang? France.
Some purists argue the award should favor players who grew up in African academies. But honestly, if you're wearing the green of Nigeria or the red of Morocco and you're the best on the pitch, does it matter where your birth certificate was signed? The fans usually say no, as long as you're winning.
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Why Some Legends Never Won
It’s genuinely wild when you look at who doesn't have this trophy on their mantle.
Jay-Jay Okocha is the name that usually starts a fight in any sports bar. The man was so good they named him twice, yet he never won the CAF African Footballer of the Year. He came close in 1998 but lost to Mustapha Hadji by a handful of votes.
Then there’s Kalusha Bwalya. He won in 1988, but many feel he deserved more recognition for his longevity. The award often suffers from "Recency Bias." If you have a massive June, people forget what you did in January.
The Eto'o and Yaya Touré Era
If we’re talking dominance, we have to talk about the four-time winners. Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Touré are the kings of this mountain. Touré actually pulled off four in a row from 2011 to 2014, which is just insane.
Eto'o, meanwhile, has been in the headlines for less-than-ideal reasons lately. In early 2026, he was slapped with a suspension and a fine by CAF over misconduct at the AFCON. It’s a weird dynamic—seeing a four-time winner and legend of the award at odds with the organization that handed him those trophies. It just adds to the soap opera that is African football.
How to Track Who’s Next
If you're trying to figure out who’s going to win the next one, stop looking at TikTok highlights and start looking at these three things:
- The AFCON Factor: In an Africa Cup of Nations year, the winner almost always comes from the championship-winning team. If you don't show up for your country, your club goals don't mean much to the voters.
- Champions League Depth: It’s not enough to be in the Champions League anymore. You need to be in the semi-finals or final. Hakimi proved this in 2025.
- The "Narrative": CAF loves a good comeback story. Lookman’s rise from being "just another winger" to a hat-trick hero is exactly the kind of story that wins votes.
The African Footballer of the Year award isn't just a stat-checking exercise. It’s a reflection of where the continent stands in the global game. When Hakimi won, it wasn't just about his pace; it was about Morocco's rise as a global footballing powerhouse.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The players who drag their nations to the finish line in those high-pressure matches are usually the ones standing on that podium in Rabat or Lagos at the end of the year. Check the official CAF rankings and match reports regularly, but always leave room for the underdog—African football thrives on the unexpected.