Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain full-back, Achraf Hakimi, has backed himself to win the CAF Player of the Year award over Ademola Lookman, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 26-year-old defender has experienced success with every club he’s played for, from his academy days, winning the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Super Cup with Real Madrid, the DFL Super Cup with Borussia Dortmund, the Serie A with Inter Milan alongside multiple trophies with PSG.
Hakimi, alongside Nigeria and Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman, Serhou Guirassy, Simon Adingra, and Ronwen Hayden-Williams made the final five CAF Player of the Year nominees shortlist.
The former Real Madrid man revealed that even if he doesn’t win the Player of the Year award, the nomination is enough inspiration to spur him to aim higher in the future.
“It’s a source of pride and satisfaction, especially knowing that the work I’ve been doing for a long time will be rewarded with this nomination. It’s true that it’s an important trophy on an individual level, but I’m happy to be here,
I hope I can win it, but if not, I’m happy to be here, and it makes me want to keep working,” he told Brut via maliactu.net.
The winner of the CAF Player of the Year award will be known on Monday, December 16th when the Awards Ceremony will be hosted in Marrakech, Morocco.
In the past year, Hakimi has won the French Ligue 1, Coupe de la Ligue, and the French Super Cup trophies, whilst sealing a bronze medal for Morocco in the men’s Olympic football competition.