Since former Liberian international and AC Milan […]

Since former Liberian international and AC Milan striker George Weah won the Ballon d’Or in 1995, no other African men’s footballer has claimed the prestigious individual award.

This is despite the continent’s continued contribution to world football, producing players who have excelled at some of the biggest clubs and competitions across the globe.

However in 2022 Africa came close to winning it when Sadio Mane the Senegalese came out second, with Karim Benzema carrying the crown..

The question remains: what is preventing African players from reaching the summit of individual football recognition?

Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times (ZBT), football analyst Moses Mpundu said winning the award depended on several factors, including sustained performance, international recognition and the ability to attract votes from the award’s electorate.

“Since 1995, no African player has won it, regardless of how competitive they have been. Winning the award comes with a lot of influence, and this influence is perceived by the judges,” Mpundu said.

He argued that African players needed to maintain exceptional performances over longer periods to strengthen their chances of winning the award.

“It is all dependent on the votes. It is unfortunate for Africa, but it is a sport with different personalities winning it. The competition is stiff. African players need to have longer dominance. We can say they are playing in the big five leagues, but what matters is how long that influence lasts,” he said.

Mpundu said Weah’s success in 1995 came at a time when he had established himself at leading European clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, helping him build the profile needed to compete for the award.

He pointed to the emergence of contemporary football stars such as Lamine Yamal, Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé as examples of players whose sustained performances have kept them in the global spotlight.

Mpundu also cited the achievements of African women’s football stars, including Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, as evidence of the continent’s growing presence in elite football.

He expressed hope that an African player would eventually reclaim the award, arguing that sustained excellence at the highest level would be essential.

Mpundu further suggested that former African stars such as Samuel Eto’o and Didier Drogba had demonstrated the continent’s ability to produce world-class talent, although maintaining dominance over an extended period remained a major challenge in the race for football’s most coveted individual honour.

Article by Samuel Mutale

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