Blackout drama fails to dim 2025 Ballon d’Or glory in Yaoundé

By Mishael Emmanuel 

 

 

 

The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony glittered with prestige and drama at the Yaoundé Conference Center, as Cameroon celebrated the finest stars of the 2024–2025 football season in a night that blended glamour with an unexpected twist.

Set against the scenic backdrop of Mount Nkolnyada, the ceremony drew dignitaries, football stakeholders and fans, with First Lady Chantal Biya adding sparkle to the occasion.

With warm applause and visible pride, she congratulated the night’s biggest winners in a hall buzzing with anticipation.

The spotlight first shone brightly on Lys Fraiche Tiwa, who claimed the women’s Ballon d’Or in style, capping a remarkable campaign with football’s most coveted individual prize on home soil. 

The celebrations rolled on smoothly until the final act.

Just as the stage was set for the men’s Ballon d’Or presentation, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. 

The lights suddenly went out. Darkness swallowed the hall. A stunned silence replaced the cheers as a power outage interrupted the ceremony, even with the First Lady in attendance.

For a country accustomed to electricity cuts, the moment was painfully ironic. 

The prestigious Palais des Congrès, expected to boast automatic backup systems befitting a high-profile global event, was left scrambling.

Television viewers watched as the event’s trailer looped repeatedly while organisers worked frantically behind the scenes.

After tense minutes that felt much longer, power was restored and with it, relief. 

The ceremony roared back to life, and Serge Daura finally stepped forward to receive the men’s Ballon d’Or, drawing thunderous applause that seemed louder in defiance of the disruption.

In the end, the brief blackout could not dim the brilliance of the night. 

Despite the flicker of controversy, the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony delivered unforgettable moments, celebrated excellence, and crowned its kings and queens — proving that even in darkness, the stars still shine.