Bafana Bafana captain and Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has made history by becoming the first South African to be nominated for the prestigious Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or awards. Despite an injury that has kept him out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Williams’ recent performances have been exceptional. His contributions were pivotal in securing the inaugural African Football League title and the 2023/24 Premiership trophy for Sundowns.
Over the past season, Williams featured in 46 matches, logging 4,200 minutes on the field while conceding just 19 goals and keeping 30 clean sheets. His outstanding form earned him the AFL Goalkeeper of the Tournament and PSL Goalkeeper of the Season awards. Williams also played a key role in Bafana Bafana’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where his penalty-saving heroics in the quarterfinals helped South Africa achieve its best Afcon finish since 2000.
The Yashin Trophy, which honours the world’s top goalkeeper, includes a competitive field of nominees such as Diogo Costa, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Emiliano Martinez. Named after the legendary Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin, who remains the only keeper to have won the Ballon d'Or in 1963, the award will be presented during the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris on October 28.
In addition to Williams’ nomination, African contenders for this year's awards include Ademola Lookman for the Men’s Ballon d'Or, Barbra Banda and Tabitha Chawinga for the Women’s Ballon d'Or, Karim Konate for the Kopa Trophy, and Williams for the Yashin Trophy.
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