Moroccans are still reacting to Achraf Hakimi losing the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award despite many home fans tipping the Paris Saint-Germain defender as the favourite to win on home soil.
The PSG star was left heartbroken after the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) announced Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman was the winner during the award ceremony on Monday, December 16.
Lookman defeated Hakimi, South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy, and Brighton's Ivorian winger Simon Adingra to win the prestigious award.
According to ESPN, the 27-year-old forward scored 17 goals and contributed 10 assists in 45 games across all competitions for Atalanta in the 2023-24 season and has made a similarly productive start to this campaign.
Hakimi with his family. 🇲🇦✨#cafawards2024 pic.twitter.com/g7NMv9NaVN
— Micky Jnr (@MickyJnr__) December 16, 2024
Many Moroccans have voiced their displeasure with the results of the CAF awards but legendary goalkeeper Badou Zaki disagrees with his countrymen.
Zaki explains why he didn’t vote Hakimi
Moroccan legendary goalkeeper Zaki has disclosed he did not vote for Hakimi in the CAF Awards because he believes Lookman was the right recipient of the accolade rather than his countryman, All Nigeria Soccer reports.
"I did not succeed in voting for Achraf Hakimi. I wished he would win the Golden Ball. He is a heavyweight star, the best right-back in the world, and he still has something to offer in the future."
Lookman won the UEFA Europa League title, Copa Italia silver medal and also finished 14th overall in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings whereas Hakimi’s notable achievement was winning the Ligue 1 title with PSG.
