2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or:

Banda finishes outside the top 10

By BENEDICT TEMBO

COPPER Queens captain Barbra Banda was unable to break into the top 10 of the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or.
Also missing out from the top 10 is Malawian starlet Temwa Chawinga.
Banda and Chawinga, the two African representatives finished 14th and 17th respectively in the final standings, which were unveiled in Paris on Monday ahead of the official ceremony.
Long before the spots were revealed at the Châtelet Theatre in Paris, France during the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or, the fate of the two nominated African players was already sealed.
The Zambian and Malawian marquee players settled for 14th and 17th place in the rankings revealed on Tuesday in Paris.
It was the second consecutive time that Banda, aka BB1 was been nominated for the prestigious award.
The abrasive forward is still ranked one of the best African female footballers on the 2025 list.
Evergreen Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmatí won this year’s Women’s Ballon d’Or, winning it for the record third time.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons who won this year’s CAF Women’s AFCON title were well represented by Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie who finished fourth in the inaugural edition of the Women’s Yachine Trophy.
Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah was ranked fourth, with Paris Saint-Germain and Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi getting sixth position following his impressive performance in his club’s Champions League triumph, making them the two African players to have made the top 10 in the overall Ballon d’Or rankings.