Is Salah Going to Steal the African Golden Ball After Lookman?
The echoes of Nigerian Ademola Lookman’s victory for the Best Player in Africa award continue to stir wide debate, particularly in Morocco, where many believe that Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi deserved it more, given his consistent presence in Europe and significant contributions to the Moroccan national team.
Today, as the announcement for the next winner of the African Golden Ball approaches, a prominent question arises: Will Egyptian Mohamed Salah succeed in claiming the title this time? Especially since Salah and Hakimi’s rankings in the list of the world’s best players bolster their odds and establish them as natural candidates for the award.
Behind the scenes, some memories linger, notably the incomplete Marrakech meeting that disrupted the agenda of the African Football Confederation, including a friendly match that was supposed to involve its senior members. Many linked this to the influence of CAF President Patrice Motsepe, whose decisions are viewed as having directly affected the undeserved award given to Lookman at Hakimi’s expense, right in the heart of Morocco.
This growing influence of Motsepe within the corridors of the Confederation raises concerns that the grip on African football has become tighter than ever, which could reflect on the credibility and balance of awards among major African stars.
As we await the upcoming edition, the question remains: Will Mohamed Salah be the greatest beneficiary of these hidden equations, claiming the African Golden Ball after it was “stolen” from Hakimi in the last edition?
