Women’s Ballon d’Or: Africa’s Banda and Chawinga set for history

Africa’s female stars, Zambia’s Barbara Banda and Malawi’s Tabitha Chawinga, are set to compete for the Ballon d’Or Féminin tonight in Paris after impressive campaigns last season.

This marks the third consecutive year that African players have been nominated for the award and the first time two African players are included in the top 30 list.

Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala received nominations in 2022 and 2023, placing 16th and 20th respectively. However, the Bay FC forward missed out on a nomination this year after a challenging season.

Now, Orlando Pride’s Barbara Banda and Lyon’s Tabitha Chawinga, who excelled last season for both club and country, are aiming to become Africa’s first-ever women to claim the title.

After becoming the second most expensive female player following her move from China to the USA, Banda has scored 13 goals in 21 appearances, adding a trophy to her accomplishments. She also led the Zambia national team to the Olympics, where she made a mark by scoring four goals, including a hat-trick.

Tabitha Chawinga, meanwhile, emerged as the top scorer in last season’s French top flight with PSG—where she played on loan from China’s Wuhan Jianghan University—netting 19 goals and ending the season as the club’s best player. Currently on loan at Lyon, she hopes to replicate her success.

While Banda and Chawinga are proud to be named among the world’s top 30, they’ll face strong competition from the likes of Aitana Bonmatí, Caroline Graham Hansen, and Ada Hegerberg for the top award tonight in Paris.