Regragui, Osimhen, and the Atlas Lions, award-winners
Although the African Player of the Year award went to Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, ahead of Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Moroccan soccer shone brightly at the CAF Awards 2023, held in Marrakech on Monday December 11 evening.
The Atlas Lions’ success at the World Cup in Qatar earned the Moroccan national team the title of best national team of the year. The national team beat Gambia and Senegal in the CAF Awards ranking. The national coach, Walid Regragui, was named Coach of the Year (men’s team), ahead of Algeria’s Abdelhak Benchikha (Simba SC/Tanzania) and Aliou Cissé (Senegal team). Walid Regragui was appointed just a few months before the 2022 World Cup, having won the African Champions League with the WAC club from Casablanca.
Speaking at the awards ceremony, Regragui said: «I must thank His Majesty King Mohammed VI for his vision and his tireless efforts to develop the Kingdom in general and soccer in particular». Regragui added: «I would also like to thank the players who believed in our project at the World Cup, as well as the President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Fouzi Lekjaâ, for the confidence he placed in me before the World Cup….. This title certainly gives me pleasure, but all African coaches deserve it. At the World Cup in Qatar, we represented the whole of Africa. Together we’ll move forward and together we’ll win».
In the «Goalkeeper of the Year» category, Atlas Lions goalkeeper Yassine Bounou won ahead of André Onana (Cameroon/Manchester United) and Mohamed El Shenawy (Egypt/Al Ahly). The current goalkeeper of Saudi club Al Hilal had won the Europa League with Sevilla, not forgetting his memorable performance in the penalty shoot-out against Spain in the Round of 16. The awards for Moroccan soccer didn’t stop there, as Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR) was awarded the prize for «Interclub Player of the Year «. She beat out Refilwe Tholakele (Botswana/Mamelodi Sundowns) and Lebohang Ramalepe (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns).
Her fellow countrywoman Nesryne El Chad, who plays for French club Lille, took the title of «Young Player of the Year», ahead of Comfort Yeboah (Ghana/Ampem Darkoa) and Deborah Abiodun (Nigeria/Pittsburgh Panthers).
The Young Player of the Year award was won by Senegal’s Lamine Camara, who plays for Metz in France, ahead of Moroccan international Abdessamad Ezzalzouli (Real Betis) and Amara Diouf (Senegal/Metz). On the other hand, Nigeria took the title of Women’s National Team of the Year, ahead of the Moroccan and South African selections. Morocco hosted the CAF Awards, celebrating excellence in African soccer, for the 2nd year running, following the 2022 edition held at the Mohammed VI Football Compound in La Maâmora (Rabat region).
A.T.
