By BARNABAS ZULU
ZAMBIA’S Copper Queens’ captain, Barbra Banda, has once again earned international recognition, being named to the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) Women’s Best XI for 2024. Banda’s remarkable performance throughout the year has solidified her place as one of the top footballers in the world.The 2024 season was a standout one for Banda, who captained Orlando Pride to an outstanding victory in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Under her leadership, the team secured the NWSL Shield and the coveted NWSL Championship. Banda’s offensive prowess played a crucial role, as she scored 13 goals in the regular season and provided six assists. Her exceptional performance continued in the Championship phase, where she netted four goals and contributed an additional assist, setting a record as the first player to score in every knockout phase of the tournament. For her efforts, Banda was named the NWSL Championship MVP, a testament to her leadership and skill.Banda’s success didn’t stop there. She was also named the BBC World Women’s Player of the Year and CAF Women’s Football Player of the Year. Her exceptional performances earned her second place in the prestigious FIFA The Best Awards, narrowly losing out to Ballon d’Or winner Aitana Bonmatí.Adding to her achievements, Banda’s stellar display at the 2024 Paris Olympics saw her score four goals, including a remarkable hat-trick. With this achievement, she became the only female player to score three hat-tricks at the Olympics, further cementing her legacy as one of the best players of her generation.
