Zambia and Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda has been honored as the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year. She garnered the highest number of votes from readers of the BBC Sport website following the announcement of a five-player shortlist last month.
The shortlist, which reflects performances from September 2023 to August 2024, was curated by a diverse panel of football experts, including coaches, players, administrators, and journalists not affiliated with the BBC.
“I am both shocked and delighted to receive this award,” stated the 24-year-old in a press release provided to africa24hrsnews. “I extend my gratitude to everyone who voted and to all those who have contributed to my journey—my family, my national team in Zambia, and especially my teammates at Pride. This achievement belongs to all of us.”
During the Paris Olympics this summer, Banda netted four goals for Zambia, including a first-half hat-trick against Australia, making her the leading African goal scorer in Olympic history with a total of 10 goals.
In the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) regular season, she scored 13 goals for Pride after joining the team in March, along with four goals in the playoffs, one of which was the decisive goal in the championship final on Saturday, leading Orlando Pride to their first title. Consequently, she was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the NWSL.
Aitana Bonmati, midfielder for Spain and Barcelona, secured second place in the voting, while Sophia Smith, forward for the USA and Portland Thorns, came in third. Caroline Graham Hansen from Norway and Barcelona, along with Naomi Girma from the USA and San Diego Wave, were also included in the shortlist.
Banda has become the second-most expensive women’s football signing in history, following her Zambia teammate Racheal Kundananji, after transferring to Pride from the Chinese club Shanghai Shengli for $740,000 (£581,000) in March.
“My primary goal is always to score, as I have a passion for it,” Banda stated. “However, it all begins with practice, engaging in productive training sessions, and having meaningful discussions with coaches and teammates. It has not been an easy journey, but I believe that dedication and consistency have played a significant role in my progress.”
Banda is the African highest goal scorer in the Olympic with 10 goals
The captain of the Zambia national team, who ranked 12th in the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or, is also a former professional boxer, having won all five of her matches before shifting her focus to football.
“Growing up in Zambia has presented numerous challenges, particularly for young girls. It has been quite difficult for us to pursue sports like football,” she remarked. “Parents often did not believe that women could participate in football, which posed a significant obstacle. My mother was initially unsupportive, but as women’s football began to gain recognition in Zambia, she came to understand my passion and allowed me to pursue what I love.”
