Moroccan Talent Shines Bright in CAF Awards Nominations
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the nominees for its prestigious annual awards ceremony, the CAF Awards, set to take place on December 16th at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco. The list features a strong contingent of Moroccan talent, highlighting the nation’s rising prominence in African football.
Two of Morocco’s brightest stars, Achraf Hakimi and Sofiane Rahimi, are in the running for the coveted African Player of the Year award. Hakimi, a dynamic full-back currently showcasing his skills at Paris Saint-Germain, has become a crucial component of both club and country. Rahimi, known for his electrifying pace and clinical finishing, has been instrumental in leading his club team to success.
Moroccan club Renaissance Sportive de Berkane, often referred to as RS Berkane, has earned a nomination for Club of the Year. The team’s consistent performance and exciting brand of football have captivated fans across the continent. Further solidifying RS Berkane’s presence in the nominations, their talented goalkeeper, Mounir El Kajoui, is a contender for the African Goalkeeper of the Year award.
The Moroccan national team, fresh off their historic semi-final run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, is among the nominees for National Team of the Year. Their inspiring performance in Qatar, where they became the first African and Arab nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals, has cemented their place as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage. They face stiff competition from other African powerhouses including Angola, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, and Uganda.
The future of Moroccan football is also well-represented in the CAF Awards nominations. Two promising young talents, Eliesse Ben Seghir, currently making waves at AS Monaco, and Bilal El Khannous, showcasing his skills at Leicester City, are both in contention for the Young Player of the Year award. Their inclusion highlights the growing pool of young Moroccan talent making their mark in top leagues around the world.
While national team coach Walid Regragui, the mastermind behind Morocco’s historic World Cup run, did not receive a nomination for Coach of the Year, the abundance of Moroccan talent recognized across various categories speaks volumes about the nation’s remarkable progress in African football. The CAF Awards ceremony in Marrakech promises to be a celebration of African football, with Morocco taking center stage as a nation on the rise.
