Football
From amateur boxer to top goalscorer - how Zambia captain Barbra Banda is writing herself into history
As Zambia make their FIFA Women’s World Cup debut, all eyes will be on their captain Barbra Banda who, at just 23 years old, has already written herself into the football history books
Barbra Banda, the remarkable captain of Zambia, is making waves in women's football, surpassing records from the Chinese Super League to the Olympics.
Despite her achievements, the 23-year-old remains incredibly humble.
As she prepares to guide her nation to their first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup, Banda's determination shines through, emphasizing her unwavering commitment until the last whistle of this summer's tournament.
Olympics.com talk exclusively to Barbra Banda, the Zambia captain inspiring the nation's next generation of footballers, in the World at their Feet series.
Barbra Banda: Where it all began
Banda started playing football on the streets of Lusaka in Zambia, and it was then that her talent became evident.
At the age of just five years old, the Zambian international was already showing signs of incredible ability beyond that of her counterparts.
However, due to societal expectations in her community her mother initially discouraged her interest in football, and instead was eager for her daughter to focus on school studies.
"Men in Africa believe that it is only them that can play football," Banda told Olympics.com. "So when they see you as a girl playing football, they'll just take it as for fun."
It wasn’t until Banda’s father revealed his support of her footballing interest that Barbra realised the sport was something she could pursue.
“The passion, I got it from my dad because each and every time he would inspire me. When I’m playing, I could hear his voice shouting at me to push harder in everything,” Banda revealed.
Alongside football, Banda was also heavily involved in amateur boxing and juggled the two sports whilst simultaneously passing her year 10 exams in 2016.
But amongst all her success came devastating news.
That same year her father, who was undoubtedly her biggest supporter, tragically passed away.
“I didn’t want it to affect my game when I had millions of people watching me, representing my country,” Banda said.
“Whatever I do, I dedicate everything to him.”
And just months later in 2017, her professional career began.
Barbra Banda: Her rise to greatness
Barbra Banda kicked-off her professional career in her home country of Zambia, signing for the Green Buffaloes - one of the country’s most successful clubs.
It was here that Banda played in the FAZ Women Super division - the top tier of Zambian women’s football.
"[Green Buffaloes] is a very big team in Zambia. I had to challenge myself to work hard so that I can play in Europe."
A year later in 2018, she signed for Spanish side Logroño and in doing so, became the first Zambian female footballer to ever play in Europe.
At the time, Logroño played in the top tier of Spanish women’s football, La Liga F, and played against some of the country’s biggest clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.
In her first season in La Liga F, she scored 17 goals and helped Logroño retain their place in the top flight.
"When the first season ended, I was the second top goalscorer," told Banda. "It was amazing."
In 2020, Banda joined her current Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shengli and finished her first season as the league's top goalscorer.
After an incredible start to her career in China, Barbra Banda didn’t have to wait long to impress on the world stage.
The then-21 year old was called up to represent Zambia at the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021, and scored a hat trick against the Netherlands in her country’s opening game.
In Zambia’s second group stage game, Banda struck again with another three goals against China cementing herself as the first ever female player to score back to back hat tricks at an Olympic Games, and the first to score two hat tricks in one tournament.
"For me to have those hat tricks, it was through the team", explained Banda. "Because of the hard work of the team - each and every player."
"Coming to the Tokyo Olympics made the country very proud. Although we didn't get the result we wanted, we are heading in the right direction."
And since then, Banda hasn’t thought about slowing down.
In 2022, Zambia played a friendly match against Lesotho where Banda netted six of the seven goals scored that day, and earlier this year she scored four in Zambia’s 4-0 win over Uzbekistan in the 2023 Turkish Women’s Cup.
Barbra Banda: WAFCON ineligibility
Despite Banda’s remarkable career thus far, her journey hasn’t been without setbacks.
The Zambia captain was set to lead her nation out at last year’s Women’s AFCON until FIFA deemed her ineligible after a gender verification procedure determined that her natural testosterone levels were ‘too high’ to compete as a woman.
The controversial decision received huge amounts of backlash from the Human Rights Watch as well as football fans and sport media outlets.
Banda’s exclusion from last year’s WAFCON triggered a FIFA review into its policy on gender eligibility restrictions and in December 2022, the global football federation confirmed that Banda would be eligible to play at this year’s Women’s World Cup - a welcomed decision by not only Zambian football fans, but fans of the sport from across the globe.
Barbra Banda: Inspiring the next generation
At the age of just 23, Barbra Banda has already written her name into the history books on multiple occasions.
"In Zambia we have a lot of talent," told Banda. "That is why we have to keep inspiring young girls in my country."
“There is a women’s football revolution in Zambia,” one of Banda’s former coaches Kaluba Kangwa told Olympics.com
From her back to back Olympic hat tricks to becoming the first Zambian woman to play in Europe, Banda is redefining what women’s football means in her home country.
“You can see the participation of our girls has increased. Of course, Barbra is their hero and inspiration, the majority of them are talking about her.”
And this summer she will inspire them once more as - despite her recent setbacks - she leads her nation out on their Women’s World Cup debut.
"Qualifying for the World Cup was a dream come true to me. It was something whereby everyone was emotional - we hugged each other and cried. It was amazing."
“Whether we are leading or we are losing, we just have to push until the last whistle,” she explained.
“That's me. I’m always that kind of person who will encourage you to push harder.”