Malawi is the only country in Africa that has contributed more than one nominee for the prestigious Women’s Ballon d ‘Or.
Since the women’s Ballon d’Or was first awarded in 2018, only four African players have been nominated, including Malawian sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga.
The only other African nominees are Zambia’s Barbara Banda, who leads the number of nominations with three and Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala who has two nominations.
Super Eagles forward Asisat Oshoala was the first, making the 20- and 30-name shortlists in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Banda has been nominated in every year since, joined by Tabitha in 2024 and then her sister Temwa in 2025 and 2026.
It means no more than two players from Africa have ever been listed for the prize in any one year.
The continent has had a total of 10 nominations from the 195 players nominated overall, but is yet to win the prestigious award while on the male category, Africa has won it once through Liberiam legend George Weah in 1995.
Reacting to the statistics, Tabitha said: “I think it is awesome that we are the only African country to have contributed more than one nominee and one of the only three African countries to be selected. Hopefully, a Malawian will win it on the near future.”
Temwa and Banda are the only African women nominees for this year’s edition just like was the case last year.
