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Fez – The African Football Confederation (CAF) has nominated four Moroccan players for the coveted prize of men’s African Player of the Year, scheduled to take place on July 21 in Morocco.
In the list it unveiled today, the African football governing body selected Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi, Angers winger Sofiane Boufal, Wydad AC midfielder Yahya Jabrane, and Sevilla FC goalkeeper Yassine Bounou as nominees for the coveted prize.
As the four players all enjoyed a remarkable season both at the club level and alongside Morocco’s national football team, their nomination for this year’s CAF Awards was unsurprising.
For the Moroccan international Hakimi, he delivered notable performances this season with PSG, helping them win the French league.
Hakimi’s performance with Morocco’s Atlas Lions was arguably even more influential. The 23-year-old player was one of the team’s most indispensable players during this year’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), and his stunning freekick against Malawi during the Round of 16 was selected among the cup’s best goals.
Hakimi was also one of the architects of Morocco’s World Cup qualification, putting up a great display in the qualifying matches.
CAF also nominated Angers winger Boufal, who was having one of his best seasons before suffering from an injury that took him off the pitch for the rest of the year.
The 28-year-old Moroccan international fared well during Morocco’s Atlas Lions’ participation in the AFCON, acting as a major threat to the opponents’ defenses on the left flank.
Wydad AC’s Jabrane also enjoyed his share of recognition following a great performance in the African Champions League. The Moroccan defensive midfielder proved strong against Africa’s toughest opponents, carrying his team to the African crown.
Last but not least was Sevilla FC goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who had an exceptional season with the Andalusian club. Bounou notably solidified his legacy at Sevilla by becoming its first goalkeeper to win the Zamora trophy for the best goalkeeper in LaLiga, Spain’s top-tier football league.
Read also: FIFA: 5 Promising Moroccan Talents Ahead of 2022 World Cup
Beyond the African Player of the year prize, six Moroccan players were selected as contestants for the interclub player of the year category.
Casablanca’s Wydad AC, the African Champions League winning team, received three player nominations: Achraf Dari, Yahya Jabrane, and Zouhair El Moutaraji.
Issoufou Dayo and Youssef El Fahli, two players from Morocco’s RS Berkane, also made it to the list after winning the CAF Confederation Cup last month.
Raja AC’s Mouhcine Moutouali is another contender for the renowned prize.
In the coach of the year category, Morocco’s football team’s head coach Vahid Halilhodzic and Wydad AC’s Walid Regragui were selected among the competing contestants following their notable achievements this year.
Meanwhile, Moroccan clubs Wydad AC, Raja AC, and RS Berkane were nominated for the club of the year prize.
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the prestigious CAF award ceremony is once again set to celebrate the different elements of African football.
“This year’s edition of the prestigious award ceremony for African football, the CAF Awards 2022, will return on Thursday, 21 July 2022 in Morocco,” CAF announced on its website earlier this month.
