Sports

Zambian captain Barbra Banda voted BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year

Published

3 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Captain of the Zambian women’s national football team, Barbra Banda, has been voted the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year for 2024.

The Orlando Pride FC forward rode to the crown after she received the most votes from readers of the BBC Sport website after a five-player shortlist was announced last month.

The criteria for winning was based on performances from September 2023 to August 2024, which saw Banda who plies her trade in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), selected by a large panel of experts involved in football around the world, including coaches, players, administrators and non-BBC journalists.

Banda who is the 10th winner of the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award, scored four goals for Zambia at the Paris Olympics, including a first-half hat-trick against Australia, to become the leading African goalscorer in Olympic history with 10.

She has also scored 13 goals for Pride in 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) regular season, despite only joining in March, and four goals in the playoffs, including the winning goal in the championship final on Saturday as Orlando Pride won their maiden title.

Banda, 24, became the second-most expensive women’s signing in history, behind Zambia team-mate Racheal Kundananji, when she joined Pride from Chinese club Shanghai Shengli $740,000 (£581,000) in March.

Speaking to BBC Sports after receiving the award, Banda said:

“I am shocked and surprised to have this award right by my side.

“I would like to thank the people who voted and everyone who has played a part in my life and my career – my family, my national team in Zambia and especially the Pride team. It is for everyone.”

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Sports

TP Mazembe pip AS FAR to win African Women’s Champions League

Published

2 days ago

November 24, 2024

Isaac Dachen

TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) became the third team to win the 2024 African Women’s Champions League after narrowly defeating AS FAR of Morocco 1-0 in the final played on Sunday at the El Jadida’s Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi Stadium.

TP Mazembe claimed the title for the first time courtesy of a 10th minute penalty which was converted by Marlene Kasaj after AS FAR captain Aziza Rabbah handled the ball in the box.

The Congolese side should have doubled their lead six minutes later when an unmarked Merveille Kanjinga fired wide from seven yards out before the more fancied home team gradually grew into the match and looked to cancel the deficit and add to their continental triumph in 2022.

But AS FAR put in a subdued display and failed to test Mazembe’s goalkeeper Fideline Ngoy, with tournament top scorer Doha El Madani who had netted six goals in their run to the final, wasting their best chance as she sliced a first-half free-kick wide.

With the triumph, TP Mazembe carted home the giant trophy and a cheque for $600,000 (£479,000) after the prize money was increased for the fourth edition of the tournament, while the AS FAR went home with $400,000 (£319,000).

Sports

Wafcon 2024 draw throws up interesting pairings

Published

3 days ago

November 23, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The draw for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) holding in Morocco from July 5 to 26 next year which was held on Friday, threw up some interesting match-ups to look forward to as hosts Morocco found themselves in what has been described as the group of death.

The Atlas Lionesses will have to contend with Zambia, DR Congo and Senegal in Group A, while Group B has record 11-time continental champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria slugging it out with Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana, just as current defending champions, Banyana Banyana of South Africa will do battle with Ghana, Mali and Tanzania in Group C.

The top two sides in each group will progress to the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-placed finishers.

Though qualification for the 2024 Wafcon was completed in December last year, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), was forced to push the finals into 2025 because of international football’s congested calendar, which included the participation of Nigeria and Zambia at the Olympics.

Morocco also staged the 2022 edition of Wafcon, ending as runners-up, and former international Fatiha Laassiri believes home support will provide “a real advantage” next year.

Wafcon 2024 group draw with world ranking in brackets:

Group A: Morocco (hosts, 59), Zambia (62), Senegal (83), DR Congo (102).

Group B: Nigeria (36), Tunisia (78), Algeria (84), Botswana (153).

Group C: South Africa (holders, 50), Ghana (66), Mali (81), Tanzania (145).