PSG defender Hakimi wins African Footballer of the Year

Morocco's national team captain and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi was named Africa's Men's Player of the Year in Rabat on Wednesday.

Achraf Hakimi (2nd R) of Morocco vies for the ball during the Group F match against Canada at the 2022 FIFA World Cup at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Dec. 1, 2022. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng)

Facing strong competition from Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen of Nigeria and Galatasaray, Hakimi claimed the award after an exceptional season where he helped PSG win the UEFA Champions League, French Ligue 1, French Cup and UEFA Super Cup.

Hakimi became the fifth Moroccan in history to win the title, with former international Mustapha Hadji being the last Moroccan to win a continental or global individual award in 1998.