The Paris Saint German (PSG) talented defender, Achraf Hakimi has 9goals and 14 assists in the 2024/ 2024 football season. His performance at the just concluded Champions League finals has left football fans amazed. Many are already calling him best contender for the revered “Africa Player of the Year” award 2025.
The 26 year old Moroccan star defender, Hakimi, is not new to challenges on big stage. Prior to joining PSG in 2021, he had played for European top clubs like Real Madrid (2016/ 2017), Borussia Dortmund (2018), Inter Milan (2020). His defensive prowess, athletism is praised across fanbase.
Aside football fame, Hakimi is popularly and socially known for his divorce case in 2023. Rumours had spread of how he had maneuvered losing half his wealth to his ex wife by putting his mother as sole owner of his properties and earnings. Although the veracity of these claims were not reported by any reputable media, male football fans, especially the Gen Z, only admire Hakimi the more. An action the seem a like a social protest against unfair divorce laws.
One player, who has been consistent over the past few years is Victor Osimhen. The 26 year old Nigerian striker had an amazing season with Turkish side, Galatasaray. Osimhen won the league title and Turkish Super Cup with Galatasaray. Although, on loan, he performed greatly setting new records.
After winning 2023 Italian Serie A with Napoli, the first after 33 years, Osimhen went on loan to Galatasaray to an incredibe reception by fans, staff and fellow players. This was the morale booster he needed to break new records with the Turkish club.
Osimhen scored 35 goals and 8 assist in 39 games this season at Galatasaray. He is currently Turkish Super Lig top scorer, and a record of “most goals ever by a foreign player” in Turkish history. Teeming fans are arguing he is the best to win the African Player of the Year award. Previously, Osimhen won the African Player of the Year in 2023, and passed the torch to another Nigerian star forward, Ademola Lookman of Atalanta, who is currently the 2024 African Player of the Year winner.
Who would be the African Player of the Year in 2025 seem a mystery, but not for fanbase who believe it is between Achraf Hakimi and Victor Osimhen.
