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New York Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
The rapid rise of Zambia, a team led by but not reliant on Barbra Banda
The Olympic Stadium Rabat was rocking with boisterous support. Hosts Morocco had high hopes for the opening game of this year's Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). But then Barbra Banda dazzled and stole the show in her tournament debut. It took just 58 seconds for the 25-year-old to score. Picking up the ball just inside the Moroccan half, she glided past a couple of challenges before firing a shot from just outside the area past goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi. Advertisement The Orlando Pride forward went on to provide an assist for fellow NWSL star Racheal Kundananji and was named player of the match as the Copper Queens drew 2-2 with the Atlas Lionesses. It may not have been a victory, but it was a statement nevertheless. For the first time in their history, Zambia are one of the tournament favourites. After finishing second in Group A — two victories and a draw left them level on seven points with table-toppers Morocco — the Copper Queens face a difficult quarter-final against nine-time African champions Nigeria today, but thanks to their raft of attacking talent, they enter the match with confidence. There is Banda the history-maker — the first woman to score back-to-back hat-tricks at the Olympics — and her Pride team-mates Prisca Chiufya and Grace Chanda. Bay FC's Kundananji, once the world's most expensive female player, and Fridah Mukoma, currently on loan in China from Kansas City Current, make up the five NWSL players at the vanguard of a nation that has seemingly cracked the code for developing talent. Zambian football is, at its roots, a community sport, played in every corner of the country; from the capital Lusaka to the Copperbelt Province near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Rift Valley on the country's northern fringes. 'There are so many community tournaments that are being hosted and school programmes,' Fred Kangwa, manager of Bauleni United Sports Academy and the man who first spotted Banda, tells The Athletic. 'It is because of the sense of belonging and ownership that communities feel where these girls come from.' Zambia's under-17s, a team which has included Banda and seven other current Copper Queens players, have been dominant at the youth level in Africa. They regularly win the regional Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Cup and have recently qualified for their second successive FIFA Under-17 World Cup. However, that success has rarely translated to anything significant at senior level. Advertisement In 2014's WAFCON, Zambia lost every game. After failing to qualify in 2016, they have featured in every edition since. They failed to get out of their group in 2018, but at the next tournament in 2022 they broke through, losing to eventual winners South Africa in the semi-finals. Zambia could not follow up on that progress in last year's Olympics, finishing bottom and without a point in a heavyweight group that included the U.S., Germany and Australia. Change has been bubbling the last decade, in large part thanks to stars like Banda and Kundananji playing abroad in the NWSL. Much of the credit also lies with the strength of the country's domestic football. In 2022, Zambia's 22-player squad was made up of 18 domestically based players. In the mid-2010s, the Zambian Football Federation (FAZ) began incorporating previously unconnected regional leagues into a single football pyramid. Perhaps more impactfully, they also established regular youth-level tournaments for academies and schools to participate in for both boys and girls. Those youth teams feed into provincial youth teams that play in national tournaments, which are monitored by the federation. From an early age, most players are on the radar of the national team — Banda was selected for the Under-17 national side at just 13. The federation has also been proactive at providing international opportunities for those youth players, regularly participating in the COSAFA Cup. While the vast majority of Zambian clubs are community rooted, the top table of Zambian football has always been different. The majority of teams in the top flight are state-run, with various national institutions sponsoring their own teams: the army and air force, as well as sponsorship from state-owned industries and mining companies. This often means that men's clubs struggle to keep up financially with their continental rivals, and those in Europe and North America, who are often owned by wealthy investors. But in the women's game, where private financial investment is virtually non-existent, the modest but consistent salaries that players and staff can be paid are transformative. With a greater amount of national interest in the last few years, almost all of the clubs backed by the state have turned professional. Advertisement 'It's one of the things that attracted other players to come,' Carol Kanyemba, head coach of Green Buffaloes, as well as the Zambian U-17s, tells The Athletic. '(They think) maybe I can be employed in the army, or I can get a salary at the end of the day. I can help my family using this money.' Players at Green Buffaloes are given a salary from the army but are assigned to play football as their job in the military. They are even given ranks. Banda, who played for the Buffaloes for two years, was recently promoted to Warrant Officer Class Two. Clubs like Green Buffaloes and the Red Arrows of the air force also guarantee jobs for players after their footballing career ends, providing a level of stability that is rarely found in football. It's that community support combined with superstar players that help bring about lasting change. That is, players like Banda. The African Player of the Year's career has taken her from the Green Buffaloes — bar a six-month sojourn into boxing where she won all five of her professional bouts — to Dux Logrono in northern Spain and Shanghai Shengli in the Chinese Women's Super League, where she scored 18 goals from 13 games in her first season, before moving to the NWSL. 'She went to boxing because she felt football was not given the necessary attention that it was given for girls,' says Kangwa. 'She thought boxing would be a faster route for her to get employed as a soldier in the Zambia army.' In the U.S. Banda has continued to shine. Last year she was named the league's MVP after scoring 17 goals as the Pride secured a first league title. At last year's Games, she again proved her worth on the world stage, scoring a first-half hat-trick against Australia. No African has scored as many as her 10 goals across two Olympics. And yet, this is her first WAFCON. Banda, who is a cisgender woman, missed the 2018 and 2022 tournaments due to gender eligibility concerns raised by the federation. This was reportedly linked to naturally high testosterone levels that CAF claimed were higher than the federation's limit; however, she has never been found to have broken any rules set by FIFA, CAF or the NWSL. Advertisement With their best player denied a place on one of the sport's biggest stages, Kundananji stepped up in 2018 but also faced exclusion in 2022. Zambia's players found a way forward. Banda scored two hat-tricks at the 2020 Olympics (held in 2021). The professional leagues started to take shape shortly after and a national team with 18 players playing professionally domestically reached WAFCON's semi-finals in 2022. Of course, there are still struggles, like the bottom-of-the-group finish in last year's Olympics, but in the space of seven years, Zambia's overall rise has been swift. And now, they face Nigeria on equal footing with one of Africa's historical heavyweights with a place in the last four at stake.
The South African
24-06-2025
- The South African
Police offer R100 000 reward for Limpopo priest's killer
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has announced a R100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect who killed Father William Banda, a 38-year-old Malawian priest. On 13 March 2024, a suspect fatally shot Father Banda at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Tzaneen while he was preparing for morning Mass. Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba stated that the unknown male suspect, described as a well-dressed man, entered the church around 7:00 a.m. and pretended to be a congregant. He sat next to Father Banda during prayers and followed him to the sacristy. There, the suspect suddenly pulled out a firearm and shot Father Banda multiple times as he prepared for a morning sermon. He then fled the scene in a white vehicle without registration numbers. Emergency medical services personnel declared Banda dead at the scene. The Limpopo Murder and Robbery Unit is leading the probe. Police have made no arrests as of 24 June 2025. Authorities urge the public to come forward with any information. The police urge anyone with information that could help in the arrest and conviction of the perpetrator to contact the investigating officer. They can also report tips via the Crime Stop number 08600 10111, their nearest police station, or the MySAPS App. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- The Citizen
R100k reward offered in 2024 Tzaneen priest murder case
TZANEEN – SAPS appeals to the public for information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect involved in the murder of 36-year-old William Banda, a Malawian national and priest at the Tzaneen Roman Catholic Church. Police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba says that the incident occurred in March 2024, while Banda was preparing to deliver a sermon. 'According to police reports, an unidentified man entered the church under the pretence of being a congregant. The suspect then pulled out a firearm and shot the priest multiple times before fleeing the scene in a white vehicle without registration plates,' says Ledwaba. Emergency Medical Services declared Banda dead at the scene. A case of murder was opened, and investigations are ongoing. Read more: Police launch manhunt for priest's murderer In a bid to accelerate the investigation, the SAPS has offered a R100 000 reward for any credible information that may lead to the arrest and successful conviction of the suspect. Members of the public who may have information are urged to contact Warrant Officer Shai on 082 465 2996 or Colonel Tinyiko Shilenge, the Provincial Commander of the Murder and Robbery Unit, on 071 673 1814. Alternatively, information can be reported via the Crime Stop number at 08600 10111, through the MySAPSApp, or at any local police station. SAPS continues to appeal to community members to come forward and assist in bringing justice to the victim and his family. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
24-06-2025
- IOL News
Join the manhunt: R100,000 reward offered for information on Catholic priest's disturbing murder
Father William Banda was murdered by "a well-dressed man" at the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tzaneen Diocese in 2024. Image: X/The Southern Cross Limpopo police are seeking leads in their investigation into the murder of Tzaneen Roman Catholic priest, Father William Banda. Banda, a 38-year-old Malawian national, was gunned down around 8am on March 13, 2024, while preparing a sermon at his church. Police reports suggest that the murder suspect arrived at the church on the morning of the murder pretending to be a congregant. It is alleged that he suddenly pulled out a gun and shot Banda several times. Emergency personnel rushed to the church following the shooting, but sadly the priest was declared dead at the scene. A case of murder was opened for further investigations, which remain ongoing. The latest police identikit of the man who brutally murdered Father William Banda. Image: SAPS Despite the South African Police Service (SAPS) launching an extensive manhunt following the "appalling and deeply disturbing' murder in 2024, the case went cold. The SAPS is now offering a reward of R100,000 for any valuable information that may lead to the arrest of the suspect involved in this heinous incident.
CAF
21-06-2025
- Sport
- CAF
TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2024: Zambia Team Profile
Published: Saturday, 21 June 2025 How the team qualified Zambia secured their TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations place by eliminating Angola in the second round of the qualifiers. The Copper Queens recorded a dominant 6–0 away win in Luanda and followed it up with another 6–0 victory at home in Lusaka. This emphatic triumph reflects the continued rise of a young yet experienced squad, which also featured at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON history Zambia has emerged as a rising force in recent years. Their best performance to date remains a third-place finish in 2022, earned after defeating Nigeria in the third-place play-off. It marked their first-ever continental medal. The team went on to make history again by qualifying for the 2023 World Cup, where they claimed their first win at the tournament with a 3–1 victory over Costa Rica. Players to watch Barbra Banda: A true icon of Zambian football, the captain is a powerful and determined striker capable of changing a game single-handedly. She made headlines with back-to-back hat-tricks at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics against China and the Netherlands. She repeated the feat at Paris 2024 against Australia. Now playing for Orlando Pride in the NWSL, she continues to impress with her consistency, charisma, and ability to step up in key moments. A natural leader, she embodies the hopes of a nation dreaming of establishing itself among the elite of women's football. Racheal Kundananji: Together with Banda, she forms a formidable attacking duo. Her explosiveness, power, and eye for goal make her one of the most closely watched players on the continent. After a standout spell with Madrid CFF, she made headlines with a record-breaking move to Bay FC, becoming the most expensive African player in history and completing the second-costliest transfer in the history of women's football. At both club and international level, she is known for her composure in front of goal and her rare ability to create space in opposition defences. Head Coach Nora Häuptle was appointed as Zambia's head coach in January 2025, following a successful stint in charge of Ghana. The Swiss tactician and former international is known for her tactical discipline, defensive solidity, and preference for rapid transitional play. Since taking over, she has instilled a new level of discipline within the Copper Queens while building a competitive side around the attacking prowess of Banda and Kundananji to compete at continental and global stages. Ambitions and Group Analysis Under Häuptle's guidance, the Copper Queens aim to reach new heights by cementing their place among Africa's women's football powerhouses. Drawn in Group A alongside hosts Morocco, Senegal, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, they face a tough challenge. In this tightly contested group, the Copper Queens will look to continue their ascent and prove they can match the continent's strongest teams.
