US-based Malawian women’s football sensation Temwa Chawinga says she wasn’t expecting to be nominated for the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’ Or and her inclusion came as a “big surprise”.
The Scorchers and Kansas City (KC) Current forward is among the 30 nominees for the prestigious award and one of the only two female footballers from Africa, the other being Zambian Barbara Banda, who also plies her trade in the States.
In an interview yesterday, Temwa said: “Did I expect it?… No! It wasn’t even on my mind because there are just so many good players out there and also considering the performance of our national team.
“But I am very happy, I am so excited because this is a big motivation in my career, it is certainly a big boost.”
Asked what it means to be one of the only two African nominees, the 26-year-old striker said: “It’s flattering because you have to look at the countless exceptional talent from Africa to appreciate what it means.
“I thank God Almighty for all this.”
Temwa shone like flare in her debut season in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) last year when she scored a record 20 league goals to win the golden boot and was also named Most Valuable Player.
This season, Temwa has led her team KC Current to a good run so far as they top the table in the NWSL with 26 points from 14 matches, 10 points above second-placed reigning champions Orlando Pride.
She is also the second leading scorer with nine goals, a goal shy of leading scorer Esther Gonzalez of Gotham FC.
Last year, big media outlets such as ESPN and The Guardian questioned her exclusion from the list of the Ballon d’Or nominees which also had two Africans, her sister Tabitha and Banda.
Posting on her Facebook page, Tabitha applauded her sister, saying: “Congratulations sis Temwa, you deserve it.”
Temwa, who won the 2023 overall world golden boot with 63 goals, will compete for the award with the likes of Spain and Barcelona duo of Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas as well as Spain and Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey, who are considered front-runners.
The men’s category includes three Africans, Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohammad Salah, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, who are set to compete with the likes of Spain and Barcelona teenage star Yamine Lamal, Paris Saint Germain and France winger Ousmane Dembele and his Portuguese teammate Vatinha.
