ASHRAF HAKIMI WINS THE AFRICAN BALLON D'OR

Achraf Hakimi, the Morocco captain, won the award for African men's player of the year on Wednesday at the end of 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, but 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 off competition from two previous winners, Liverpool's Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, to win 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," said Hakimi, 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."

Hakimi is currently nursing a severely sprained ankle but, if fit, will lead hosts Morocco in the Africa Cup of Nations starting December 21 as they seek to win the competition for the first time since 1976.

The prize for the best women's player on the continent went to Morocco's Ghizlane Chebbak, who managed to defeat fellow countrywoman Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigerian Rasheedat Ajibade.

The Al Hilal attacker was the leading scorer in this year's Africa Women's Cup of Nations, although her side went down to Nigeria in the decider.

It was a record breaking day for the ceremony's host country Morocco as Yassine Bounou scooped the best men's goalkeeper award and the Moroccan under-20 World Cup-winning side was voted the best men's national team.

Watford 20-year-old Othmane Maamma of Morocco was declared best young men's player, while his compatriot Doha El Madani retained the title of best young women's player.

Cape Verde boss Bubista was named men's coach of the year after guiding the country, which has a population of 525,000 people, to a spot at the 2026 World Cup.

Chiamaka Nnadozie, Nigerian shotstopper, has just won her third straight women's goalkeeper of the year award.