Some years ago, African women players rarely get nominated for prestigious awards in world football. Since the women’s Ballon d’Or was first awarded in 2018, no African player made the list in 2018, 2019 or 2021.
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However, Asisat Oshoala broke the Ballon d’Or jinx when she was nominated for the highest individual award in football in 2022, after her exploits for Barcelona Femení. She repeated the feat the following year, although she didn’t make the podium.
Since then, African representatives have featured regularly in the race for the coveted accolade. Zambia’s Barbra Banda was shortlisted in 2024, 2025 and 2026, finishing 12th and 14th in the first two editions. Malawi’s Tabitha Chawinga made the 30-woman shortlist in 2024, and her younger sister Temwa was shortlisted in 2025 and 2026.
Interestingly, Temwa Chawinga has taken it a notch higher this year, making the top 10 players in the world. The Malawian star is now the first African woman ever to reach the Ballon d’Or top 10, surpassing Banda’s 12th place in 2024 and Oshoala’s 16th place in 2022.
Temwa Chawinga’s Golden Year In Review
Temwa Chawinga has had an impressive 2026 for both club and country as she was instrumental in Malawi’s record-breaking WAFCON campaign.
At club level, she became the first Kansas City Current player to score a regular-season hat trick on May 10, 2026, leading her side to an emphatic 3–0 victory over the Chicago Stars. So far this season, the energetic striker has played 18 league games, recording 12 goals and 4 assists in the NWSL.
Her impact on the Malawi national team can’t be overlooked. She played an integral role in their record-breaking run to the WAFCON 2026 final.
Before the tournament, the world gave the Scorchers little chance, considering their inexperience as debutants. However, many were shocked when they defeated the reigning champions, Nigeria, 3–2 in their opening match, with Chawinga scoring twice.
Her quality runs, strength, and overall quality became obvious to those who hadn’t followed her progress in the NWSL before the tournament. Temwa didn’t stop there. She and her sister, Tabitha, were ruthless throughout the campaign, combining for nine goals and leading the debutants to a first-ever World Cup qualification and a final clash with Cameroon.
Though they lost 3–0 to the Indomitable Lionesses, Temwa Chawinga finished as the tournament’s joint-highest goalscorer with five goals, and she also provided two assists.
Next Stop: CAF Player Of The Year?
Considering her exploits at WAFCON 2026 and her importance to her club, Temwa is a strong contender for African Women’s Footballer of the Year. The CAF Awards come up on December 7 in Lagos, and she will be up against the best of the continent. The nominees haven’t been announced yet.
