Ballon d'Or 2025: the list of African countries authorized to vote

It's now official: the next Ballon d'Or ceremony, which annually rewards the finest talents in world football, will take place on September 22, 2025. As the event approaches, France Football has released the list of countries eligible to vote, based on the latest FIFA rankings. Among them, 22 African nations have been selected.

A more selective but narrower vote

Since the reform of the voting process, only the top 100 countries in the FIFA rankings can appoint a representative from among their national sports journalists. The goal: to strengthen the transparency of the poll and prevent inconsistent voting that could undermine the credibility of the Ballon d'Or.

This new approach, implemented at the previous edition (won by Spain's Rodri), therefore limits the total number of voters to 100, down from 170 previously.

The 22 African countries eligible to vote

Africa will therefore be represented by 22 journalists, chosen from the continent’s highest-ranked countries in the FIFA standings.

This selection reflects the continent’s growing influence on the global football stage, while also adhering to the objectivity criteria set by the organizers.

Here is the full list of African nations authorized to vote for the 2025 Ballon d'Or:

1. Morocco (12th in the world)
2. Senegal (19th)
3. Egypt (32nd)
4. Algeria (36th)
5. Ivory Coast (41st)
6. Nigeria (43rd)
7. Tunisia (49th)
8. Cameroon (50th)
9. Mali (53rd)
10. South Africa (56th)
11. DR Congo (61st)
12. Burkina Faso (64th)
13. Cape Verde (72nd)
14. Ghana (76th)
15. Gabon (79th)
16. Guinea (82nd)
17. Angola (87th)
18. Zambia (88th)
19. Uganda (89th)
20. Equatorial Guinea (92nd)
21. Benin (95th)
22. Mozambique (96th)

A vote eagerly awaited

With just a few months to go before the ceremony, speculation is rife about the favorites to succeed Rodri. With these 22 African nations taking part in the vote, the continent will have a significant voice in this prestigious contest—a symbol of recognition at the very highest level of international football.

Amine Jomni |

Editorfr

African football writer and sports journalist covering football news, stories and insights while sharing his expertise with fans across the continent.