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Disappointment among Moroccans after Hakimi’s loss to Ademola Lookman at CAF Awards following hope fueled by family support.
Disappointment swept through Morocco following the announcement that Ademola Lookman had been named the 2024 CAF Player of the Year, defeating local favourite Achraf Hakimi.
The 2024 CAFAwards ceremony, held in Marrakech, had initially raised hopes among Moroccan fans, especially as Hakimi attended the event with his family, fueling expectations for his victory.
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As Lookman's name was called, Moroccans in attendance reportedly expressed their frustration by chanting Hakimi's name, clearly showing their discontent with the outcome.
Many felt that the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had overlooked Hakimi's contributions in favour of Lookman's achievements, which came at the back of an impressive season with Atalanta and a strong performance at the Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria.
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Sports analyst Mohamed El Hajoui voiced his disappointment, questioning the criteria used to determine the winner.
“If we compare this to last year, even Bounou had an award for the same European competition and made a bigger impact at the national level contributing to the first-ever African team reaching the World Cup semi-finals,” he stated per Moroccan outlet Morocco World News.
El Hajoui further criticised the perception that players from sub-Saharan Africa only need to win European titles to be considered for such prestigious awards, asking rhetorically whether Hakimi needed to achieve "something greater than a World Cup final" to earn recognition.
The sentiments of frustration were echoed throughout social media, where many Moroccans expressed their discontent with CAF's decision.
The uproar was amplified by the fact that last year's winner, Victor Osimhen, had also benefited from his success in European competitions.
Despite the disappointment, Lookman's victory is a significant milestone for Nigerian football, marking a consecutive win for Nigeria after Osimhen's win in 2023.
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The Atalanta forward's contributions for both club and country with the Super Eagles have been substantial, leading Nigeria to the finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and securing Atalanta's first European trophy.
While Moroccans battle with their feelings about Hakimi's loss, they remain proud of his accomplishments and contributions to both club and country.
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