As the stage is set for the 2024 African Player of the Year award in Morocco, former Moroccan striker Salaheddine Bassir has thrown his support behind Achraf Hakimi to clinch the prestigious accolade. The Paris Saint-Germain fullback is reportedly the favorite, with viral reports from French, Moroccan, and Egyptian media suggesting he leads the race.

Hakimi faces stiff competition from three other nominees: Simon Adingra of Ivory Coast (Brighton & Hove Albion), Serhou Guirassy of Guinea (Borussia Dortmund), and Ronwen Williams of South Africa (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Ademola Lookman, Nigeria’s representative, also boasts a strong case. The Atalanta winger played a pivotal role in his club’s Europa League triumph, scoring a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen. On the international stage, Lookman was instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the AFCON final, contributing three goals and an assist while earning a spot in the Team of the Tournament.

However, Bassir believes Morocco has a unique opportunity to claim the title after being overlooked in 2023 despite strong campaigns from Hakimi and goalkeeper Yassine Bono. He expressed hope that this year’s award would recognize Hakimi’s excellence, stating:
“I am optimistic about Achraf Hakimi being named the best African player of 2024. We do not want surprises like last year when, despite Victor Osimhen’s achievements, we felt Morocco deserved the honor.”

Lookman, on the other hand, seeks to join the elite ranks of Nigerian greats such as Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, and Victor Osimhen, who have previously won the award.

The ceremony, hosted in Morocco, promises an exciting conclusion to the debate on who truly deserves the title of Africa’s best in 2024.