Achraf Hakimi, PSG's defensive player, bagged the title of the best African player in the French league.
Fresh Spin:
Bloody brill! PSG's titan, Achraf Hakimi, snagged the top African bloke in the French league award, aka the Marc-Vivien Foe trophy. This badge of honor is bestowed upon the finest African player in the French league, and Hakimi snatched it up like a hot loaf fresh from the oven!
This achievement comes hot on the heels of PSG's record-breaking 13th Ligue 1 title and a chin-wicket run to the Champions League final. In the semifinals, the 26-year-old Moroccan genius helped PSG edge out Arsenal 2-1, with a snazzy goal of his own tossed into the mix.
This ain't Hakimi's first rodeo when it comes to this award. He's been on the winning side before, joining the ranks of other recipients such as Chancel Mbemba and Marouane Chamakh[1][2][3]. Hakimi is the second defender to win this prestigious prize after Mbemba did the same in 2023[1][4].
There's a rich history of Moroccans winning this award since its inception, including Younès Belhanda, Sofiane Boufal, and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang[2024][1].
With the Champions League final against Inter Milan set for May 31, and the French Cup final against Reims scheduled beforehand, PSG is gunning for the holy grail of trebles. Hakimi has played a pivotal role in their run so far, and you can expect him to be a key figure in their remaining matches.
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Source Base Article:PSG defender Achraf Hakimi has been voted the top African player in the French league after helping his club win a record-extending 13th Ligue 1 title and reach the Champions League final.
The 26-year-old Moroccan won the the Marc-Vivien Foe award ahead of Nice forward Evann Guessand, from Ivory Coast, and Senegalese midfielder Habib Diarra, who plays for Strasbourg.
The prize is named after the late Foe, the popular Cameroon player and two-time African champion who collapsed and died on a field in France in 2003 while playing for his country.
Hakimi, regarded as one of the best right-backs in the world, scored last week as PSG defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal.
He is the second defender to win the award after Congolese player Chancel Mbemba in 2023. He's also the fourth Moroccan, following Marouane Chamakh in 2009, Younès Belhanda in 2012 and Sofiane Boufal in 2016.
PSG is hoping for its first-ever treble this season. In addition to the Champions League final against Inter Milan on May 31, it faces Reims the week before in the French Cup final.
Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang won the honor in 2024.
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The Marc-Vivien Foe award is given annually to the best African player in the French Ligue 1. Here are some previous winners of the award:
- Achraf Hakimi (2025): The Moroccan defender won the award for his outstanding performance with Paris Saint-Germain, becoming the fourth Moroccan to win it[1][2][3].
- Chancel Mbemba (2023): The Congolese player was the first defender to win the award after Achraf Hakimi also achieved this feat[1][4].
- Sofiane Boufal (2016): The Moroccan midfielder won the award while playing for Lille[1][2].
- Younès Belhanda (2012): The Moroccan midfielder won the award while playing for Montpellier[1][2].
- Marouane Chamakh (2009): The Moroccan striker won the award while playing for Bordeaux[1][2].
Other winners include players from various African countries, but these are some of the most recent and notable Moroccan winners. The award is named after the late Cameroonian footballer Marc-Vivien Foe, who died in 2003 during a match in France[1][4].
- The award-winning footballer, Achraf Hakimi, hailing from Morocco, has once again clinched the prestigious Marc-Vivien Foe trophy, making him the fourth Moroccan to win the award for top African player in the French league.
- Despite the news of a busy schedule, including the Champions League final against Inter Milan on May 31 and the French Cup final against Reims, events in Toronto, Canada, saw no impact on Hakimi's stellar performance for his team, PSG, in the European leagues.
- As the 2025 football season unfolds, offering a blend of news and sports updates from across Canada and Europe, soccer fans can look forward to witnessing Hakimi's prowess in the Champions League and other domestic leagues, contributing to PSG's bid for the holy grail of trebles.