Black Queens goalkeeper Cynthia Konlan has been nominated for the Women’s 11 at the 2025 The Best FIFA Awards, earning global recognition for her exceptional performances throughout the year.
Konlan’s nomination marks a major milestone for Ghanaian football, as she becomes the only Ghanaian shortlisted for this year’s awards and one of three African goalkeepers in contention for the Team of the Year.
Her consistent brilliance was key to the Black Queens’ third-place finish at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco. Konlan’s agility and composure in goal proved vital during the knockout rounds, where her crucial saves propelled Ghana to secure the bronze medal.
Her inclusion in the FIFA shortlist reflects growing recognition of Africa’s rising influence in women’s football. Other African nominees include Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria), Ngoy Mudimbi (Tanzania), and Ghizlane Chebbak, Ibtissam Jraidi, and Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco), as well as Barbra Banda (Zambia) and Temwa Chawinga (Malawi).
The nomination cements Konlan’s reputation as one of Africa’s finest goalkeepers and a shining ambassador for Ghanaian women’s football on the world stage.