President William Ruto was on Wednesday night, November 19, bestowed with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) President’s Outstanding Achievement Award during the 2025 CAF Awards ceremony held in Rabat, Morocco.
Although President Ruto was not present at the event, Kenya’s Ambassador to Morocco, Jessica Gakinya, received the accolade on his behalf.
The honour recognises Kenya’s growing influence in African sports, particularly the government’s investment in modern sports infrastructure and the persistent support offered to athletes across disciplines.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe, while presenting the award, highlighted Kenya’s role in accelerating the continent’s football development.
“The development and growth of African football needs partnerships from countries. Every year, we give recognition to those countries, those Heads of States and governments that have partnered with the 54 African members for the development of football,” Motsepe said.
“So this year we are recognizing the President of Kenya for his enormous contributions,” he added.
The award follows Kenya’s successful co-hosting of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) alongside Tanzania and Uganda, a tournament in which Kenya staged the final.
The achievement marked a significant milestone in the nation’s ambition to reclaim its place as a regional football powerhouse.
Hakimi Named CAF Player of the Year 2025
On the same night, Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi was crowned the CAF Player of the Year 2025, capping an outstanding season for both club and country.
Hakimi triumphed over a highly competitive shortlist that included Egypt and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, who currently plays for Galatasaray in Turkey.
The Moroccan defender enjoyed a stellar year, helping his national team qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and guiding them through the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
At the club level, Hakimi lifted both the UEFA Champions League and the Ligue 1 title with PSG.
His win marks a historic moment, as he becomes the first Moroccan to claim the award since Moustapha Hadji in 1998, ending a 27-year wait for the North African nation.
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