The Senegalese midfielder from Strasbourg (French elite), Habib Diarra, the Ivorian forward from Nice, Evann Guessand, and the Moroccan defender from Paris Saint-Germain, Achraf Hakimi, are the three finalists for the Marc Vivien Foé Award.
The Marc Vivien Foé Award is given to the best African player of the season in France.
It has been organized since 2009 by Radio France Internationale (RFI) in tribute to the Cameroonian player who passed away from a heart attack during a match on the Gerland field in Lyon on June 26, 2003.
Habib Diarra, 20, captain of Strasbourg, is credited with a great season with his club. He missed a few matches this season due to an injury in February 2025.
On the national team side, Habib Diarra has also gained recognition with the Senegal Lions. He scored the only goal of the match between Senegal and Burkina Faso in Bamako last November, which counted towards the fifth and second-to-last day of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
A few days later, the Lions midfielder further showcased his skills with a brace against Burundi (2-0) in Diamniadio.
Shining with the Lions, he missed Senegal's matches in March against Sudan and Togo during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Habib Diarra is one of the three finalists for the 2025 Marc Vivien Foé Award, alongside two other African players who also excelled in Ligue 1 this season.
The first is Chancel Mbemba, the cornerstone of Olympique de Marseille's defense and captain of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Leopards. With a solid and decisive season, he proved himself as a leader in major fixtures, both in league play and European competitions.
The third finalist is Achraf Hakimi, right-back for Paris Saint-Germain and Moroccan international. Known for his explosiveness and offensive runs, Hakimi was a key player in PSG's championship victory. He also made an impression with his consistency and commitment on the field throughout the season.
Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the most recent winner of the award. The name of the 2025 Marc Vivien Foé Award winner will be announced on Monday, May 12.
