Orlando Pirates and Zambia striker Barbra Banda continues to reach new heights and inspire despite relentless scrutiny. Named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2024, the 24-year-old forward is only the second African player and the first Zambian to win the award in its 10-year history.
“I am shocked and surprised to have this award right by my side,” Banda told BBC Sport, and in an Instagram post, she added, “This award goes to the fans who support my career, my teammates who make everything possible, and my coaches who give me proper guidance.” Orlando Pride coach Seb Hines has praised Banda’s talent and grit, describing her as humble, a team player and a good person to have on the team.
This award caps off an extraordinary year for Banda, who shone at the 2024 Paris Olympics, making history as the first women’s soccer player to score three hat tricks in the tournament. Her heroics helped Zambia secure a stunning win over host nation Australia, and with that, she became Africa’s all-time leading Olympic women’s football scorer. She led Orlando Pride to their first NWSL championship at club level, netting 13 goals, including one in the final.
Banda’s journey has not been without challenges. She has faced ongoing criticism stemming from FIFA’s gender eligibility regulations, which forced her out of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). These rules, targeting athletes with naturally high testosterone levels, sparked widespread backlash, but Banda has remained resilient. “If I kept thinking about what was going on in the past, mentally, I would not be where I am right now,” she said. “I am focusing on the new generation… on my career and the charity work I do back home with a lot of people in the community.”
Off the pitch, through her foundation, Banda has been working to expand opportunities for young women in Zambia, using football as a tool for empowerment. For many Zambians, she is a symbol of perseverance and possibility, and this latest accolade has strengthened her place in football history and her role as a beacon of hope for the next generation of African athletes. “It’s been a rollercoaster year full of ups and downs, but God has been with me throughout,” she said in her social media post. “To the young girl in Africa dreaming big, keep that dream and work hard; I’m telling you, it does come true.”
SOURCE: BBC Sport.
