Several African footballers have been nominated for honours at the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with players from Morocco, Senegal, Zambia, Malawi, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria and Cape Verde featuring among the contenders.
The nominations include two African players in the Men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, two in the Women’s Ballon d’Or, three in the Men’s Young Talent of the Year category and three in the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year category.
Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi and Senegal forward Sadio Mané are among the 30 nominees for the prestigious Men’s Ballon d’Or award. Hakimi was recognised following an impressive campaign with Paris Saint-Germain, while Mané earned his place on the shortlist after another strong season with Al-Nassr and Senegal.
African nominees for Women’s Ballon d’Or
Africa also has two representatives in the Women’s Ballon d’Or shortlist.
They are:
- Barbra Banda – Zambia
- Temwa Chawinga – Malawi
Banda, who plays for Orlando Pride, earns her third Ballon d’Or nomination after another impressive campaign. She scored 14 goals and provided one assist in 21 appearances during the 2025/26 season.
Chawinga, meanwhile, has also been recognised after an impressive season with Kansas City Current. The Malawi international scored 15 goals and registered three assists in 22 appearances and was also the leading scorer at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
African nominees for Men’s Young Talent of the Year
The African players nominated for the Men’s Young Talent of the Year award include:
- Ayyoub Bouaddi – Morocco
- Yan Diomandé – Côte d’Ivoire
- Ibrahim Maza – Algeria
Bouaddi has been recognised for his performances at club and international level, while Diomandé has emerged as one of Côte d’Ivoire’s brightest young talents.
Maza has likewise attracted attention for his performances at club and international level.
African nominees for Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Three African goalkeepers have been nominated for the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award:
- Yassine Bounou – Morocco
- Édouard Mendy – Senegal
- Vozinha – Cape Verde
Full list of African nominees announced
Men’s Ballon d’Or
- Achraf Hakimi – Morocco
- Sadio Mané – Senegal
Women’s Ballon d’Or
- Barbra Banda – Zambia
- Temwa Chawinga – Malawi
Men’s Young Talent of the Year
- Ayyoub Bouaddi – Morocco
- Yan Diomandé – Côte d’Ivoire
- Ibrahim Maza – Algeria
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
- Yassine Bounou – Morocco
- Édouard Mendy – Senegal
- Vozinha – Cape Verde
That gives Africa 10 nominees across the four categories announced so far.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place in London on October 26, when the winners of the various categories will be announced.
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