Tabitha Chawinga joins Mbappe in UNFP awards’ race

Malawi women’s national team captain Tabitha Chawinga has been nominated for France’s National Union of Professional Footballers Players (UNFP) Award. Kylian Mbappe leads the nomination for the men’s section.

The Malawian claimed a similar accolade in 2024 while on the books of French Ligue 1 Féminin side, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). It was then, in recognition of her remarkable feat of 18 league goals and 10 assists during that season.

This time around, the Scorchers skipper has earned the nomination in recognition of her exploits for Olympique Lyonnes (OL Lyonnes) Féminin.

What statistics say about Tabitha Chawinga

The 29-year-old has bagged 11 goals in 16 French Ligue 1 Féminin appearances in this campaign, six goals shy of the Golden Boot Award favourite Romée Leuchter of Paris FC.

Tabitha Chawinga has earned the nomination alongside teammate Dumornay, PSG left-back-cum midfielder Sakina Karchaoui, Leuchter and Clara Mateo, both Paris FC forwards.

The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations-bound star has the chance to add more goals when OL Lyonnes host Arsenal on Saturday, 2 May 2026, in the UEFA Champions League semifinal, second leg. The French side lost 2-1 in the first leg played in London last Sunday.

Apart from Mbappe, who else has earned a nomination?

She became the first Malawian women’s footballer to sign for a European side when she joined Swedish club Krokom-Varsatts in 2013. Her move opened the door for her younger sister, Temwa Chawinga, before many others followed suit.

Temwa now plays for Kansas City Current in the United States. There are now four Malawian women footballers in Europe, including Rose Kabzere (Montpellier, France) and Faith Chinzimu (BK Häcken, Sweden).

Real Madrid superstar Mbappe leads the nominations for the men’s section, which includes Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki, William Saliba (Arsenal FC), Hugo Etikite (Liverpool FC) and Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise.