Hakimi’s Triumph Amid Recovery: A Celebration of Moroccan Football

Achraf Hakimi, visibly moved, expressed his gratitude to those who have influenced his career, including his family, PSG teammates, and Morocco’s national coach, Walid Regragui.

“It’s truly an honor to be here today, and I take immense pride in winning such a prestigious trophy,” Hakimi stated.

However, his celebrations are overshadowed by the reality of recovering from a significant ankle sprain. Morocco remains hopeful that he will be fit to lead the host nation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, commencing on December 21. If he regains full fitness, he will aim to guide Morocco towards their first tournament victory since 1976.

The award ceremony also highlighted the burgeoning influence of Moroccan football. Ghizlane Chebbak was awarded the Women’s African Player of the Year, narrowly surpassing teammate Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade. Chebbak was the top scorer in this year’s Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, despite Morocco’s defeat to Nigeria in the final.

Yassine Bounou, who played a pivotal role in Morocco’s remarkable World Cup journey and is now a key figure in Saudi Arabia, was honored with the Best Goalkeeper award. Additionally, the Moroccan under-20 team, which triumphed in the World Cup, was recognized as the continent’s top national men’s team, underscoring the nation’s promising talent pipeline. Watford’s 20-year-old midfielder Othmane Maamma was named Africa’s Best Young Male Player, while Doha El Madani retained her title as the best young female player.

Cape Verde’s manager, Bubista, received the accolade for Men’s Coach of the Year after leading the island nation, with a population of just over half a million, to an extraordinary qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie claimed her third consecutive Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.

In contrasting news, Mohamed Salah’s recent award setback coincides with a noticeable decline in his club form. His impact at Liverpool has diminished, as evidenced by the team’s ongoing attacking struggles and Salah’s reduced contributions, including fewer shots and less involvement in the penalty area compared to previous seasons. He is not alone in facing pressure; Florian Wirtz, brought in as a creative player, has yet to score or assist in the Premier League, while Alexander Isak’s debut has been hindered by injuries, and Hugo Ekitike, despite early promise, has struggled for consistency. This collective downturn has left Liverpool precariously positioned in eighth place with 18 points.

Former Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison suggests it may be time for a bold reshaping of the attack, potentially sidelining Salah from the starting XI. He remarked, “The challenging discussion will revolve around players like Mo Salah because there’s a way to integrate Ekitike, Isak, and Wirtz into the same lineup, but it may require Salah’s exclusion. You could deploy Milos Kerkez and Conor Bradley as wing-backs, with Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch in midfield. Every Premier League team would covet Wirtz, Isak, and Salah, so it’s now Slot’s challenge to find a formula that accommodates all these talents.”

Hutchison added, “They need to be starters moving forward. I would strongly consider fielding all three to help them regain form, score goals, and develop chemistry, ultimately improving the team’s standing. Although it’s a big leap from now to the season’s end, this will likely be Liverpool’s future. The uncomfortable question remains how to exclude Mo Salah from that lineup. Perhaps the Africa Cup of Nations could provide the opportunity to experiment!”

Before addressing the forward selection dilemma, manager Slot must also confront pressing concerns in defense and midfield. Liverpool has become alarmingly vulnerable defensively, conceding goals in ways that would have been unimaginable during Jurgen Klopp’s peak years. The midfield balance remains unsettled, with new signings struggling to mesh. Salah’s impending departure for the Africa Cup of Nations may offer clarity or further complicate the situation, depending on the team’s performance in his absence.