Barbra Banda (born 20 March 2000) is a Zambian footballer who plays as a forward for Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League and captains the Zambia women's national football team.[2] As of July 2021[update], she is Africa's all-time top scorer in Olympic history. In 2020, she became the first woman footballer in Olympic history to score back-to-back hat tricks and the first to score two hat tricks in one tournament. In 2020, she was the top scorer in the Chinese Women's Super League.
 Barbra Banda playing for Zambia in 2023 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 20 March 2000[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Lusaka, Zambia | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Orlando Pride | ||
| Number | 22 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2018 | Green Buffaloes | ||
| 2018–2020 | Logroño | 28 | (16) |
| 2020–2023 | Shanghai Shengli | 13 | (18) |
| 2024– | Orlando Pride | 5 | (6) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2014 | Zambia U-17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2016– | Zambia | 60 | (53) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 5 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 9 April 2024 | |||
In September 2022, Banda led Zambia to win their first 2022 COSAFA Women's Cup, the top women's international football tournament for national teams from Southern Africa. Her ten goals earned her the Golden Ball Award.
Early life edit
Banda was born in Lusaka, the Zambian capital. She began playing football around the age of seven playing on the streets.[3][4] Banda was inspired by her father who played football and would encourage her to practice.[5] She played with boys as the academy she attended did not have a girls team.[6] After her parents became concerned that her focus on the sport was interfering with schooling, she would sometimes sneak out and "throw them (boots) out the window, then go out the door, and they'd think maybe she's just going outside, and then I'd go round to get them."[6]
| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Zambia's Barbra Banda: The striker who is also a boxer retrieved 7 July 2023 |
After being inspired by Zambian professional boxer Catherine Phiri, Banda started boxing around age 14[5] first as an amateur and then after never losing a bout and other amateurs refusing to fight her, she turned professional.[3][7] Banda competed in five professional bouts and won all five before opting to focus on football.[8]
Club career edit
EDF Logroño, 2018–2019 edit
Banda signed with Spanish first division club EDF Logroño in October 2018 becoming the first woman Zambian footballer to play in Europe.[5] She scored 16 goals in 28 matches with the club.[5]
Shanghai Shengli, 2020–2023 edit
In January 2020, Banda signed with Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shengli.[9] She scored in the 23rd minute of her debut for the club on August 23.[6] Banda went on to score 18 goals in 13 league matches to emerge as the 2020 Chinese Women's Super League Golden Boot winner for most goals scored in the league.[10][11]
Orlando Pride, 2024– edit
On 7 March 2024, the Orlando Pride announced that they had signed Banda to a four-year contract through the 2027 season.[12] In her first start for the Pride, she assisted, scored, and drew a penalty in a 3–2 win at the Washington Spirit on 26 April.[13] She followed that up with her first NWSL brace and an assist against the North Carolina Courage on 1 May.[14] She recorded two more braces that month in wins over the Seattle Reign on 19 May and the Portland Thorns on 24 May.[15][16] At that point, she tied the league lead in goals with eight in only seven games.[16] For her performance, she was named NWSL Player of the Month for May 2024.[17]
International career edit
Junior edit
Banda represented the Zambia women's national under-17 football team in the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup. She turned 14 during the tournament.[5]
Senior edit
| External videos | |
|---|---|
| Barbra Banda scores historic hat trick for Zambia retrieved 7 July 2023 |
On 6 March 2016, Banda made her senior team debut in a 2016 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against Namibia.
Banda captained the Zambian squad at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, the first time Zambia competed at the international tournament.[18][8] During the team's first group stage match, Banda scored a hat trick against the Netherlands. The match ended 3–10, the worst ever loss for the Zambia women's national football team and the highest-scoring women's football match in Olympics history.[19] In their second group match, Banda scored another hat trick against China with the match ending in a 4–4 draw. She became the first woman footballer in Olympic history to score back-to-back hat tricks and the first to score two hat tricks in one tournament.[20] She is Africa's all-time top scorer in Olympic history.[21][22]
On 6 July 2022, Banda and three teammates including striker Racheal Kundananji were ruled ineligible to compete for Zambia in the World Cup-qualifying tournament, Africa Cup of Nations, after a gender verification test found that their natural testosterone levels were above those allowed by the Confederation of African Football, which has stricter gender verification rules than the Olympics.[23][24][25] The ruling sparked significant controversy, with Human Rights Watch describing it as a "clear violation" of her human rights.[26] In August 2022, following Zambia's third-place finish at the tournament (and despite Banda not being able to compete), she and seven of her teammates were promoted by the Zambian Army with Banda given the highest rank of Sergeant amongst the group.[27]
In September 2022, Banda led Zambia to win their first 2022 COSAFA Women's Cup, the top women's international football tournament for national teams from Southern Africa[28][29] Her ten goals earned her the Golden Ball for the best player of the tournament.[28]
In June 2023, Banda was named to the Zambian squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand after being ruled eligible to complete by FIFA in December 2022.[30]
On 7 July 2023, she scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 12th minute of injury time, against #2 FIFA-ranked Germany leading #77 ranked Zambia to an astounding 3–2 upset. Banda was named Player of the Match.[31] Later that month, on July 31, Banda won player of the match in Zambia's first ever win in a World Cup against Costa Rica.[32][33]
On 9 April 2024, she scored a brace in a 2–0 away victory over Morocco after extra time, which qualified her nation to the 2024 Summer Olympics by winning 3–2 on aggregate.[34]
Other work edit
In 2021, Banda launched the Barbra Banda Foundation which aims to support programs that promote empowerment for women and girls on issues of economic inequality, gender-based violence, lack of access to equal opportunities, teenage pregnancies, and early marriages using the power of sport. The foundation co-hosts an annual football tournament.[35] On the foundation, Banda said, "Like many, I did not come from a place of abundance and hence I understand what it means to need help and no one willing to help you. I have also experienced how much easier life gets when you have people ready to help you on your path to success."[36]
Banda joined Common Goal in 2019 pledging at least 1% of her salary to a collective fund that supports football charities around the world.[37]
Personal life edit
Banda notes Portuguese men's footballer Cristiano Ronaldo as a player she admires.[38][5]
Career statistics edit
International goals edit
- Scores and results list Zambia's goal tally first
Honours edit
Zambia
Individual
- Chinese Women's Super League Top scorer: 2020[40]
- COSAFA Women's Championship Top scorer: 2022[28]
- IFFHS World's Best International Goal Scorer: 2023[41]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Barbra Banda – FIFA competition record (archived)
- ^ Barbra Banda at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Zambia's Barbra Banda: The striker who is also a boxer". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Barbra Banda: "We have something within us"". Olympics.org. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ronaldo-inspired Zambian striker Barbra Banda: "I want to leave my mark in women's football."". International Olympic Committee. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "Ex-boxer Banda packing a punch for Shanghai". China Daily. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "In Zambia, women are boxing's stars". Seattle Globalist. 22 March 2017. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ a b "Zambia's Barbra Banda one to watch after stellar Tokyo 2020". DW. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ Watkins, Claire (23 July 2021). "Barbra Banda isn't waiting around". The Equalizer. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ Ahmadu, Samuel (11 October 2020). "Barbra Banda emerges as Chinese Women's Super League top scorer". Goal.com. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Mubanga Jnr, Aaron (12 October 2020). "Barbra Banda wins golden boot in her first season in China". Zambianfootball.co.zm. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "Orlando Pride acquires Zambian International Barbra Banda, signing forward to four-year deal". orlandocitysc. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
- ^ Gramajo, Mike (27 April 2024). "Orlando Pride continues unbeaten start to season with win at Washington Spirit". WESH. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
- ^ Vertelney, Seth (2 May 2024). "Barbra Banda quickly turns NWSL into her personal playground". Pro Soccer Wire. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Banda scores twice as Pride prevail at Seattle to stay atop NWSL". Orlando Sentinel. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ a b Kassouf, Jeff (24 May 2024). "Orlando sets NWSL record with 8th straight win behind Banda brace". ESPN. Retrieved 25 May 2024.
- ^ "Orlando Pride Forward Barbra Banda Named May Player of the Month, Presented by EA Sports". National Women's Soccer League. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Barbra Banda: Zambian woman footballer packing a punch in China". France24. 27 August 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ Young, Ryan (21 July 2021). "Netherlands women's soccer blows out Zambia in historic win to open Olympics". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 21 July 2021.
- ^ "China PR 4–4 Zambia". Fifa.com. 24 July 2021.
- ^ "Zambia's Barbra Banda on breaking Olympic record: I aim to become best in world". ESPN. 24 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Nightmare for Germany! World Cup favourites suffer shock warm-up friendly defeat to 77th-ranked Zambia with Barbra Banda netting stunning 102nd-minute winner". Goal.com. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Zambian soccer star Barbra Banda ineligible because of high testosterone". Washington Post. 6 July 2022.
- ^ "Zambia's Barbra Banda Out of WAFCON Due to Gender Eligibility Tests, per Report". Sports Illustrated. 6 July 2022.
- ^ "Women's World Cup 2023 team guides part 12: Zambia". The Guardian. 9 July 2023. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ "Zambian Woman Footballer Sex Tested Because FIFA Allows It". Hrw.org. 13 July 2022.
- ^ Omotto, Joel (5 August 2022). "Zambia military promotes Banda & seven others after World Cup qualification, bronze medal at 2022 Wafcon". Goal.com. Retrieved 12 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "Double delight for Barbra Banda as Copper Queens sweep COSAFA individual awards". Zambia24. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Barbra Banda back 'with a bang' for Zambia after eligibility row". BBC. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Barbra Banda eligible to play at Women's World Cup, says Fifa". BBC Sport. 21 December 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Banda answers Popp in 112th minute for Zambia to beat Germany 3-2 in Women's World Cup warmup". Associated Press. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Zambia defeat Costa Rica to earn first-ever Women's World Cup points". The Guardian. Reuters. 31 July 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ "Visa Player of the Match: Barbra Banda". FIFA. 31 July 2023. Retrieved 21 August 2023.
- ^ Toufaily, Assile (9 April 2024). "Paris 2024 Olympics: Morocco Miss Out On Historic Qualification, Zambia Qualifies". Forbes.
- ^ "Barbra Banda Foundation, Annual Women's Challenge Cup Launched". Zambian Football. 2 February 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "'Barbra Banda Foundation to inspire the girl-child'". Lusaka Sun. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "ntroducing our very first Zambian 🇿🇲 #CommonGoal members". Common Goal. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Two hat-tricks in two games: Zambia goal machine Banda taking the Olympics by storm". The Sporting News. 26 July 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
- ^ "Zambia claim maiden HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Women's Championship title". COSAFA. 11 September 2022. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
- ^ "#CWSL | Topscorers of the League". China Women's Football - 中国女足. 11 October 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "IFFHS WOMEN'S WORLD BEST INTERNATIONAL GOAL SCORER 2023". IFFHS. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 2 January 2024.