Morocco’s Atlas Lion Achraf Hakimi and head coach Herve Renard are among the finalists for the 2018 CAF Awards.
Renard will be competing for the “Best Coach 2018” award against Senegalese Aliou Cisse and Tunisia’s Mouine Chaabani.
A masterful coach, Renard has won two Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) championships, one with Zambia in 2012 and one with Cote d’Ivoire in 2015.
Renard also made a solid impact with the Atlas Lions, especially in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. The head coach and his Atlas Lions also qualified to participate in the 2019 CAN.
Moroccan football star Achraf Hakimi is competing for “Best Young African Player 2018,” against AC Milan midfielder Frank Kissie and Nigeria’s Wilfred Ndidi.
Hakimi, playing in the German Bundesliga, is the fastest footballer in the German league with a speed of 35.10 kilometers per hour, according to Kicker.
The 20-year old footballer has been on loan with Dortmund Borussia from Real Madrid since July 2018.
In December 2018, the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) ranked Hakimi the top fullback in the European leagues in the previous three months. He outperformed several stars with a score of 85.3.
The CAF Awards ceremony will take place today in Dakar, Senegal. CAF President Ahmad Ahmad arrived in Senegal to participate in the ceremony.
Senegalese President Macky Sall and Rwandan President Paul Kagame will also take part in the ceremony.