Badou Zaki has admitted that he did not vote for countryman Achraf Hakimi for the CAF Player of the Year awardAdemola Lookman was crowned Africa’s best player, defeating Hakimi and three others to win the prestigious awardLookman made history as the sixth Nigerian to win the award and succeeds Victor Osimhen who won it in 2023
Moroccans are still reacting to Achraf Hakimi losing the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award despite many home fans tipping the Paris Saint-Germain defender as the favourite to win on home soil.
The PSG star was left heartbroken after the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) announced Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman was the winner during the award ceremony on Monday, December 16.
Moroccan legend Badou Zaki has shared the main reason he did not vote for his countryman Achraf Hakimi to win the 2024 CAF Player of the Year Award. Photo by Franco Arland
Source: Getty Images
Lookman defeated Hakimi, South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy, and Brighton’s Ivorian winger Simon Adingra to win the prestigious award.
According to ESPN, the 27-year-old forward scored 17 goals and contributed 10 assists in 45 games across all competitions for Atalanta in the 2023-24 season and has made a similarly productive start to this campaign.
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2024 CAF POTY: what Hakimi said before PSG game after losing award to Lookman, reports
Many Moroccans have voiced their displeasure with the results of the CAF awards but legendary goalkeeper Badou Zaki disagrees with his countrymen.
Zaki explains why he didn’t vote Hakimi
Moroccan legendary goalkeeper Zaki has disclosed he did not vote for Hakimi in the CAF Awards because he believes Lookman was the right recipient of the accolade rather than his countryman, All Nigeria Soccer reports.
“I did not succeed in voting for Achraf Hakimi. I wished he would win the Golden Ball. He is a heavyweight star, the best right-back in the world, and he still has something to offer in the future.”
Lookman won the UEFA Europa League title, Copa Italia silver medal and also finished 14th overall in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings whereas Hakimi’s notable achievement was winning the Ligue 1 title with PSG.
Atalanta coach hails Lookman after POTY win
Earlier, Henzodaily.ng reported that Gian Piero Gasperini has insisted everyone at Atalanta played a key role in Lookman’s emergence as the 2024 CAF Player of the Year.
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Achraf Hakimi breaks silence after losing 2024 CAF POTY award to Ademola Lookman
Gasperini insists he cannot take the glory alone for Lookman’s upturn in form but rather disclosed it was a team effort as everyone combined to bring out the best of each player at the club.
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Source: Henzodaily.ng