Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi won the African men`s player of the year award on Wednesday, capping a season in which he lifted the UEFA Champions League with his club Paris Saint-Germain. The 27-year-old also won a fourth Ligue 1 title last season and claimed the French Cup and UEFA Super Cup, however PSG came up short in the final of the Club World Cup as Hakimi was forced to settle for a runners-up medal in New York. 

The right-back beat out two past winners in Liverpool`s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen to claim the prize for the first time in his career. "It`s really an honour for me to be here today and I`m proud to win such a prestigious trophy," Hakimi said, before thanking his family, teammates and Morocco coach Walid Regragui. "This trophy, it`s not just for me, it`s for all the strong men and women that have dreams in Africa and those that dream of becoming footballers."