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African footballers will contest for football’s most prestigious individual trophies after they were included in the nominees for the men and women’s Ballon d’Or awards, which were announced on Wednesday.

Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman has been nominated in the men’s award while Zambian captain Barbra Banda and Malawian striker Tabitha Chawinga have made the women’s shortlist.

South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams is the fourth African in contention and makes some piece of history with his nomination as he becomes the first goalkeeper from the continent to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or Yashin Trophy.

The award, which was won in 2023 by Argentina’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emi Martinez, is awarded to the best goalkeeper.

Winners in each category will be determined through a vote by a jury of journalists from each of the top 100 countries in FIFA’s world ranking.

The Ballon d’Or ceremony is due to take place in Paris on October 28.