Barbra Banda On Zambia’s Progress At Wafcon: ‘we Have A Really Good Feeling’

Having missed nan 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations arsenic a consequence of a contention complete nan DSD (difference successful activity development) trial guidelines group by nan Confederation of African Football, Barbra Banda was tight-lipped astir her feelings arsenic nan Copper Queens won bronze without her.

Now she is backmost though. She has scored 3 goals successful Zambia’s Wafcon campaign, pinch nan first coming 58 seconds into nan tournament’s opening game, against hosts Morocco. Banda, who doubles arsenic nan Copper Queens skipper and attacking pivot, alongside nan arsenic lethal Racheal Kundananji, tin yet respire a immense sigh of relief.

“It really intends a batch for maine to beryllium present and to beryllium a portion of nan team. And being pinch nan team. We person a bully feeling,” nan reigning African women’s subordinate of nan twelvemonth tells nan Guardian astatine nan Larbi Zaouli stadium, wherever Zambia will look Nigeria’s Super Falcons, nan nine-time African champions, for a spot successful nan semi-finals connected Friday.

“It’s bully to person a [personal] title, being nan African Player of nan Year,” nan 25-year-old says. “But my main information is to support moving truthful difficult to get much titles for myself and particularly for my teammates. Without them, I will not person these titles. Everything comes from their support and encouragement. Putting connected this [national team] shirt, putting connected this [Zambia] badge, intends everything to maine … I request to show group why I americium here.”

Banda’s sterling shape astatine nan Wafcon, however, has not enabled nan striker to wholly driblet her defender and definitive existent feelings astir really achy it has been to beryllium accused of being a man successful a woman’s game.

After her action arsenic nan 2024 BBC Women’s Footballer of nan Year, JK Rowling, nan renowned author, described nan grant to Banda, successful a tweet, arsenic spitting “directly successful women’s faces”. There were reports that she had grounded gender eligibility tests, prompting her withdrawal from nan 2018 and 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. But nan Confederation of African Football person said she did not return a activity eligibility trial and was withdrawn by nan Football Association of Zambia.

Banda says: “I don’t deliberation I would opportunity overmuch [about these remarks] because, astatine nan extremity of nan day, it’s shot that we are playing,” she says. “Whatever comes, we are hoping for nan best, for each African women’s team, to advancement and to get that respect that you are talking about. It starts measurement by step.”

The Nigeria defender Ashleigh Plumptre, who has nan occupation of keeping Banda quiet during nan quarter-final successful Casablanca, praised nan Copper Queens skipper for weathering nan large wind of contention while still displaying awesome shape for NWSL broadside Orlando Pride.

Barbra Banda successful action for Zambia against Morocco astatine nan Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. Photograph: Shengolpixs/Alamy

“Even though I do not cognize her personally, I person a batch of respect for her, because I tin ideate that anybody going done that would find it very tough,” Plumptre says. “But she has been capable to soundlessness everybody arsenic she continues to travel retired and perform, moreover pinch a grin connected her face. You tin spot that her squad and state gets down her. The women’s shot world sewage down her arsenic well.”

Nothing matters much to Banda, astatine nan moment, than nan dream of captaining Zambia to a first Wafcon title, which would beryllium nan country’s 2nd African title overall, aft nan Chipolopolo, Zambia’s antheral nationalist team, won nan 2012 Afcon. “It would mean a batch to our country,” she says. “Everybody backmost location is waiting for this title and they are cheering america on. Their support keeps connected pushing us.”

During nan pre-match property convention nan Zambia coach, Nora Hauptle, was asked to picture nan value of Banda to her team. Hauptle turned towards Banda and said: “It is unusual for maine to talk to you astir Barbra, who is sitting adjacent to maine … For me, Barbra is an perfectly apical jock but besides a apical quality [being]. I was besides funny erstwhile I came to Zambia, because I didn’t cognize who she was and I needed to get a emotion for her. She is 1 of nan apical athletes successful nan world, successful position of her behaviour, connected and disconnected nan transportation … I person ne'er seen Barbra show an arrogant attitude. She is very master and she ne'er complains.”

Looking straight astatine Banda, Hauptle added: “I deliberation you’re connected people to win, 1 day, nan Ballon d’Or.”