Barbra Banda Makes History as 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the Year

Zambia Women’s National team captain Barbra Banda has become the first Zambian to win the CAF Women’s Player of the Year Award.

Banda beat fierce competition from Morocco’s star striker Sana Mssoudy and Nigerian goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to clinch the 2024 award at a ceremony at the Palais des Congres de Marrakech in Hivernage district.

Banda was also named a CAF/FIFPRO Africa XI 2024 member at the same awards ceremony.

The Orlando Pride striker joins Noko Matlou and Thembi Kgatlana as the only players from Southern Africa to have ever claimed the honour, which is largely won by West Africans. Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala has won it a record six times.

The 2024 CAF Awards covered the period from January to October 2024. Banda was recently named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2024 and became the first African to be named in the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World 11, a global recognition determined by votes from 7,000 professional footballers. 

Banda’s debut season with Orlando Pride saw her score 13 goals and 6 assists during the regular season. Her impactful performance in the playoffs, including scoring the game-winning goal in the final, earned her the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the National Women’s Soccer League. 

In a continent where opportunities for women’s football remain limited, Banda’s achievements have opened up conversations about the growth of women’s football in Africa. 

Off the pitch, Banda continues to advocate for the development of women’s football in Zambia and beyond, urging stakeholders to invest in grassroots programs and provide opportunities for young players.