Ballon d’ Or awards ceremony tonight

The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony is set for tonight in London with US-based Malawian women’s football star Temwa Chawinga and her Zambian counterpart Barbara Banda carrying Africa’s hopes in the women’s category.

The men’s category also has two African nominees in Morocco’s France-based midfielder Achraf Hakimi and Senegalese legendary forward Sadio Mane, who is based in Saudi Arabia.

However, according to BBC, none of the four African nominees is among the bookies’ favourites with Barcelona and Spain teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane emerging as the front-runners in men’s category.

Tabitha: She stands a good chance. | Courtesy of FAM

In the women’s category, the current title holder Aitana Bonmati has been sidelined with injury for the majority of the season and will not be able to defend her title for a record fourth time and the favourites among the bookies are Spain and London City Lionesses’ Alexia Putellas, Jamaica and Manchester City star Khadija Shaw and Melchie Dumornay of Haiti and OL Lyon Women.

Temwa, who is the reigning US National Women’s Soccer League Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner, could not be reached for comment yesterday.

But her France-based sister, Tabitha, who is also Scorchers captain, said in an interview yesterday that the Kansas City Current striker stands a good chance.

“Of course, it will be tight, but she has a good chance. If she won’t make the top five, then definitely she will be in the top 10,” she said.

Tabitha’s belief also stems from Temwa’s outstanding performance for the Scorchers, whom she helped to reach the final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco as well as qualifying for the World Cup in only their maiden appearance.

At the continental showpiece, Temwa won the Golden Boot with five goals and two assists.

Last year, Temwa and Banda, who also plays in the US top-flight league, were the only Africans t nominated for the Women’s Ballon d’Or.

Temwa was 17th while Banda was ranked 14th.

No African woman footballer has ever won the award since its introduction in 2018 and only four African players have been nominated for the award.

Apart from Temwa and Banda, others who have previously been nominated are Tabitha and Nigerian legend Asisat Oshoala.

In the men’s category, Liberian legend and former president George Weah is the only African to have won the prestigious award in 1995.

Run by France Football magazine since 1956, the Ballon d’Or is widely viewed as the pinnacle of individual prizes for professional footballers worldwide.

As ever, the shortlists of contenders for the biggest awards of the night have been a hot topic of debate among football fans.

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