MARRAKECH, Morocco – Reigning champions of the CAF Champions League, Al-Ahly of Egypt was awarded the Club of the Year award at CAF Awards 2023 in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.
After lifting their record 11th CAF Champions League title, which was accompanied by being Egyptian Premier League and Egyptian Cup champions, Africa’s most successful football was duly rewarded by CAF for their continued excellence in flying the Africa football flag high.
The last time Al-Ahly won the accolade was exactly a decade ago when they won it in 2013.
This year’s accolade marks the sixth time that the Egyptian giants are crowned the best club of the year at the CAF Awards, which sees them extend their record as the club with the most CAF Club of the Year awards.
Mahmoud Abdel Moneim ‘Kahraba’, Al-Ahly striker, also won the Best Goal Award in 2023, for the goal he scored against Al-Hilal of Sudan in the last edition of the African Champions League.
Ahly’s award is coupled with Percy Tau’s accolade of being awarded CAF Interclub Player of the year, according to the CAF’s official website.
Regragui scoops Best Coach of the Year
Morocco boss Walid Regragui has been crowned CAF’s Best Coach of the Year for the men’s category after guiding his country to a historic World Cup semi-final run in Qatar.
Regragui’s incredible impact saw him beat Senegal’s Aliou Cisse and Algeria’s Abdelhak Benchika to the coaching award.
Cisse was seeking to retain his crown after steering Senegal to AFCON glory last February before a last 16 World Cup run.
But the 48-year-old Regragui won polls among coaches and media as his remarkable revolution with Morocco’s talented team claimed another deserved prize.
The Atlas Lions coach took charge of the side just three months before the World Cup but worked wonders to become the first African coach to reach the last four.
Victories over Belgium and Spain highlighted Morocco’s incredible campaign under a coach who has taken the football world by storm.
Bounou claims CAF Goalkeeper of the Year crown
Moroccan hero Yassine Bounou further cemented his legendary status, winning the CAF award for Best African Goalkeeper in Marrakech.
Bounou beat fellow nominees Andre Onana of Cameroon and Egypt’s Mohamed el-Shenawy to the prestigious prize.
The 32-year-old shot-stopper was instrumental in Morocco’s historic World Cup semi-final run in Qatar, pulling off a series of sensational saves.
His cat-like reflexes and sharp decision-making frustrated world-class attackers throughout the tournament.
Bounou’s aerial dominance and commanding presence also kept the Atlas Lions firmly in matches as they became Africa’s first-ever World Cup semi-finalists.
Currently playing his trade with Saudi giants Al-Hilal, Bounou elevated his reputation to become Africa’s undisputed number one keeper in 2022.
Osimhen crowned 2023 CAF Player of the Year
Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has been named the 2023 CAF Player of the Year following his heroics for his country and club.
The Super Eagles superstar saw off challenges from Morocco full-back Achraf Hakimi and Egypt striker Mohammed Salah to land African football’s biggest individual prize.
Napoli hot-shot won the coveted prize after firing his club to a first Serie A title in over three decades.
The honour capped a remarkable year for the powerful front man who also fired Nigeria to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with 10 goals to finish as the top scorer of the qualifiers.
The Italy-based striker plundered 27 goals across all fronts as the Napoli entertainers lit up Italian football.
In doing so, the 24-year-old became the first Napoli player to finish top scorer in Italian football since Diego Maradona in 1987/88.
His goals propelled Napoli to their first Serie A crown since the days of Maradona – a triumph few predicted last summer.
