Shikabala Reflects on Africa’s Football Boom: Morocco, Milestones, and a Bright Continent
19 November 2025
CAF Awards Night in Rabat
Egyptian football legend Shikabala, the former captain of Zamalek, attended the CAF Awards ceremony held in Morocco.
He handed the Best Player in Africa award to Weston Maiili of Pyramids FC, celebrating a landmark season for the club and African football alike.
Shikabala spoke in a TV interview on the event’s sidelines, noting the award and praising the ongoing transformation of Moroccan football.
He expressed happiness to be at the continental gathering, saying the ceremony is an important occasion to honor the continent’s stars.
Morocco’s Rise, Salah, and Hakimi
Regarding the Best African Player prize, Shikabala commended Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi, asserting that both deserve recognition.
He added, “Mohamed Salah and Achraf Hakimi, no matter what I say, I can’t repay them… Salah has won it before, I expect Hakimi to win it today.”
The Zamalek captain lauded Morocco’s development across all sectors, arguing that the transformative progress did not happen by chance.
“Morocco has evolved in every way… we slept and woke to see them achieving a boom in everything… honestly, this is superb work,” he said, attributing success to long-term investment in youth development.
He also voiced his intention to return to Morocco to support Egypt at the Africa Cup of Nations, urging everyone to back the Pharaohs.
Africa’s Clubs, Players, and the Night’s Outcomes
The Rabat ceremony marked CAF’s annual reveal of Africa’s best players, clubs, coaches, and national teams, a milestone awaited by African football fans each year.
It was a defining moment for Pyramids, who, after a golden 2025 season, claimed the continent’s Best Club award, underscoring a historic run that included Africa’s premier club title and other continental honors.
Pyramids’ surge did not stop there: the club earned further continental recognition as a top representative of Egypt, alongside Salah’s continued presence and Hakimi’s rising star power among Africa’s elite.
Maieili was named Africa’s best player within the continent, while Mohamed Shibi continued to shine in defense and attack, helping cement Bahrain’s and Africa’s dominance in the club’s ranks.
Egypt’s sole club representative stood out amid nominations for other awards, while the exclusion of some players and coaches from certain shortlists sparked debate about the continent’s talent pool.
Nonetheless, Pyramids’ strong presence across categories illustrated the club’s growing stature and Morocco’s rising football profile on Africa’s map.
