Achraf Hakimi's mother shared her son's unwavering confidence ahead of the 2024 CAF Awards.
Speaking to Al-Araby via Fennec Football, she disclosed, "My son asked me to come urgently to Marrakech to be present at the CAF Awards ceremony. He told me he’ll win it."
Despite Hakimi's optimism, the prestigious CAF African Footballer of the Year award was ultimately claimed by Nigeria's Ademola Lookman.
The Atalanta forward's exceptional performance throughout the year, including a standout hat-trick in the Europa League final, secured his victory over other formidable contenders such as Hakimi, Simon Adingra from Ivory Coast, Guinea's Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa's Ronwen Williams.
The awards ceremony, held on December 16, in Marrakech, Morocco, was attended by notable figures including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
Lookman's triumph marks him as the seventh Nigerian to receive this honor, following in the footsteps of past legends like Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Osimhen.
While Hakimi, representing PSG and Morocco, aimed to become the first defender to win the award since its inception in 1992, his aspirations were dashed by Lookman's remarkable achievements.
Nevertheless, Hakimi's mother's words reflect the high hopes and expectations surrounding the talented defender.
The CAF Awards also celebrated Zambia's Barbra Banda, who was named the Women's African Footballer of the Year. Banda's impressive season with Orlando Pride, where she scored 13 goals and assisted six more, led her team to both the NWSL regular season championship and league title.
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