African Football Stars Salah, Hakimi, and Osimhen Battle for Coveted Ballon d'Or Nomination

Morocco has taken over African football in a way nobody saw coming. The Confederation of African Football just released their 2025 award nominees, and Moroccan players, coaches, and teams are everywhere on these lists. It's not just a few names here and there – this is complete dominance across almost every category.

The numbers tell the story. In the men's Player of the Year race, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi from Paris Saint-Germain is going head-to-head with Egypt's Mohamed Salah and Nigeria's Victor Osimhen. But that's just the start.

For goalkeepers, two Moroccans made the cut: Yassine Bounou, who plays for Saudi club Al-Hilal, and Munir El Mohamadi from Renaissance Berkane. They're up against South Africa's Ronwen Williams.

The domestic player category shows Morocco's depth. Mohamed El Shaibi from Pyramids and Oussama El Mellouki from Renaissance Berkane both got nominated. Even in women's football, Morocco placed two players in the top category: Ghizlane Chebbak and Sanaa Massoudi.

Here's where it gets interesting for coaches. Morocco has both their senior national team coach Walid Regragui and their under-20 coach Mohamed Wahbi in the running for best coach. That's rare for any country.

The institutional side looks just as strong. Renaissance Berkane represents Morocco in the best men's club category. Both Morocco's senior team and their under-20 squad got nominated for best national team. Even the women's national team made their category.

This sweep comes at a perfect time for Moroccan football. The country shocked the world by reaching the World Cup semifinals in Qatar, becoming the first African nation to get that far. That momentum clearly carried over into continental competitions.

The economic stakes are significant too. Success at this level brings sponsorship deals, increased tourism, and global recognition that goes way beyond sports. Morocco is already hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, and strong performances in these awards could boost attendance and international attention.

What makes this different from past African football powers is the spread. Nigeria and Egypt traditionally dominated these awards through sheer numbers and league strength. But Morocco is competing across every level – from youth development to senior international football, men's and women's categories.

The awards ceremony happens Wednesday at 9 PM Abu Dhabi time. If Morocco wins even half of these categories, it would mark a shift in African football's power structure that could last for years.