the UEFA Europa League Group Stage that saw them qualified for the knockout stage. Hanni ended his two months goal drought when he scored the club's second goal of the game, in a 7–0 win against Royal Excel Mouscron on 27 November 2016. This was followed up by setting up the club's last two goals, in a 3–1 win against K.V. Kortrijk. Two weeks later on 18 December 2016, Hanni scored twice, scoring the club's first and fourth goal of the game, in a 4–0 win against Eupen. He missed two matches at the beginning of January, due to his international commitment with Algeria at the African Cup of Nations campaign. It wasn't until on 29 January 2017 when Hanni made his first team return from his international commitment, coming on as a 75th-minute substitute, in a 0–0 draw against rivals, Standard Liège. He then scored two goals in two matches between 12 February 2017 and 19 February 2017 against Zulte Waregem and Oostende. Two months later on 16 April 2017, Hanni scored against Oostende once again, scoring the only goal of the game, in a 1–0 win. Four days later on 20 April 2017 in the second leg of the quarter–finals of the UEFA Europa League against Manchester United, he scored an equaliser, as they lost 2–1 and the club was eliminated from the tournament. Hanni then scored his thirteenth goal of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Club Brugge, as the club becomes closer to win the title. In a follow up match against Charleroi, he set up the club's last two goals of the game, in a 3–1 win, a result that saw Anderlecht becomes the Jupiler League's champion. Despite missing one match due to a groin injury during the 2016–17 season, Hanni finished his first season at Anderlecht, making fifty–five appearances and scoring thirteen times in all competitions. He also ended the season with thirteen assists. Hanni was nominated for Belgian Lion Award and Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year but lost out to Ishak Belfodil and Youri Tielemans respectively. But his goal against Oostende, nevertheless, earned him the Goal of the Year award. Ahead of the 2017–18 season, Hanni signed a contract extension with the club, keeping him until 2022. At the start of the 2017–18 season, he continued to resume his duties as the club's captain, as well as, his first team place.