The Moroccan international topped the vote by journalists, beating Marseille's Cameroon defender Nicolas Nkoulou and Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who plays for St-Etienne and was the joint top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations. The result was announced by Radio France International (RFI) and France 24.

　　The award is known as the Marc-Vivien Foe prize in memory of the Cameroon international who died during a Confederations Cup match in Lyon in June 2003.