NATIONAL TEAM - SWITZERLAND - 2014 WORLD CUP - Goodbye, Ottmar Hitzfeld. All the best and take care.

Hitzfeld has made a positive impression wherever he has been stationed and his name is still regularly chanted in the stands at Bayern Munich.

“He put together a really good team that will last for many years to come,” Granit Xhaka told FIFA.com, before Josip Drmic added: “He’s done a great job.” 

2 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 19 - LAST SIXTEEN - ARGENTINA VS SWITZERLAND 1:0

LAST SIXTEEN
1st July 2014

Argentina vs Switzerland 1:0

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 19 - LAST SIXTEEN - BELGIUM VS USA 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
1st July 2014

Belgium vs USA 2:1

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - ARGENTINA - KEY PLAYER - ‪LIONEL MESSI - PROFILE

Lionel Andrés Messi; born 24 June 1987, is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He serves as the captain of his country's national football team.

By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, he won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. 

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - USA - KEY PLAYER - ‪JERMAINE JONES - PROFILE

Jermaine Junior Jones, born 3 November 1981, is a German-American footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Turkish club Beşiktaş. He has previously played for Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen, Blackburn Rovers and Schalke 04. He was born in Germany and represented them at U21 and senior level.

1 Jul 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - NIGERIA - COACH - STEPHEN KESHI RESIGNS AFTER EXIT

He becomes the sixth manager to leave his job during the World Cup, following the departures of Honduras's Luis Suarez, Iran's Carlos Queiroz, Japan's Alberto Zaccheroni, Italy's Cesare Prandelli and Ivory Coast's Sabri Lamouchi.

Keshi, who captained Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup finals, was previously in charge of Mali and Togo.

1 Jul 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - FRANCE vs NIGERIA 2:0

LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014

France vs Nigeria 2:0

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - DAY 18 - LAST SIXTEEN - GERMANY vs ALGERIA 2:1

LAST SIXTEEN
30th June 2014

Germany vs Algeria 2:1

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - GERMANY - KEY PLAYER - THOMAS MUELLER‬ - PROFILE

Müller's role can be described as an attacking all-rounder, a player able to play in a variety of forward positions. He can play in any of the attacking midfield roles but usually plays in the center for Bayern Munich, and on the right for Germany.

He has been used as an out-and-out striker on occasion. Müller has been praised for his maturity, pace, technique, awareness and positioning.

30 Jun 2014
2014 WORLD CUP - FRANCE - KEY PLAYER - ‪KARIM BENZEMA - PROFILE

He has been named French Player of the Year twice for his performances in 2011 and 2012. Benzema is a former French youth international and has represented his nation from under-17 level onwards. 

Benzema has earned over 65 caps and represented France at three major international tournaments; the 2008 and 2012 editions of the UEFA European Football Championship and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

30 Jun 2014

2025 - CAF - PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Hakimi crowned winner

Morocco right-back Achraf Hakimi has been crowned the 2025 African Footballer of the Year at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in Rabat on a successful night for the host nation.

The 27-year-old beat Egypt captain Mohamed Salah and Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen after helping club side Paris St-Germain to the French title and a maiden Champions League trophy.

Hakimi, who missed out on the top spot in 2023 and 2024, became the first Moroccan to win the award since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.

Meanwhile, Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak won the women's prize, surprisingly seeing off Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Atlas Lionesses team-mate Sanaa Mssoudy.

Hakimi is a deserved winner of the award after his fine performances for both his national side and PSG, including scoring the opener as the French club beat Inter Milan 5:0 in the Champions League final.

His side also won the UEFA Super Cup, Coupe de France, and the French Super Cup last term, but were beaten in the FIFA Club World Cup final by Chelsea.

"It's really an honour for me to win this prestigious trophy," he said. "This trophy is not just for me - it is for all the Africans who have dreams."

 

Chebbak makes it a Moroccan double

Chebbak made history as the first Moroccan to win the women's award since its establishment in 2001.

The 35-year-old midfielder finished as the top scorer at this year's delayed 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, including netting a stunning goal in the final.

 

Cape Verde coach rewarded

Earlier in the ceremony in the Moroccan capital, Bubista was named Men's Coach of the Year after guiding Cape Verde to a historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. "This is amazing," said the 55-year-old. "We are a small country, but we have a big heart."

 

2025 CAF Award Winners

Men's Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain & Morocco)

Women's Player of the Year: Ghizlaine Chebbak (Al-Hilal & Morocco)

Men's Coach of the Year: Bubista (Cape Verde)

Men's Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bonou (Al-Hilal & Morocco)

Women's Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion & Nigeria)

Men's National Team of the Year: Morocco Under-20

Women's National Team of the Year: Nigeria

Men's Club of the Year: Pyramids (Egypt)

Men's Interclub Player of the Year: Fiston Mayele (Pyramids & DR Congo)

Men's Young Player of the Year: Othmane Maamma (Watford & Morocco)

Women's Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (AS FAR & Morocco)

Goal of the Year (voted for by fans): Clement Mzize for Young Africans vs TP Mazembe.

 

 

21 Nov 2025
BBC Sport Africa

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