FAZ Looks Ahead To Tokyo Olympics

The Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has described Barbara Banda as the 'Poster Girl for the Zambian Olympic Dream', ahead of the Tokyo games scheduled to take place next month.

The national women's team, the Copper Queens, qualified for the games back in March 2020, after they were victorious 2-1 against Cameroon in their final qualifier. It is the first time the women's side has qualified for the games, which were originally due to take place last year before being postponed as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

"If anyone can lift Zambia closer to the Olympic dream, it is Barbara Banda. Barbara has been growing her stock to stand tall among the elite of the African game," FAZ writes on social media.

"She pioneered entry into Europe of any Zambian female player by signing for EDF Logrono in 2018 in Spain. Her exploits in Spain where she won four Player of the Match accolades caught the eye of Chinese money bags Shanghai Shengli who snapped her up. She did not hesitate to make her mark in China and won the Golden Boot accolade with 18 goals," it continues.

Barbara was part of the under-17 FIFA World Cup squad in Costa Rica in 2014. Her other national team high profile engagements include the 2017 Cosafa Women Championship, during which she scored nine goals, and the 2018 Cosafa legion. She then captained Zambia in the race to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

"Coach Bruce Mwape will be banking on the Zambia Army soldier to lead her troops to glory," FAZ concludes

FACT BOX

Name: Barbara Banda

D.O.B: 20/03/2000

Club: Shanghai Shengli

Favourite Team: USA National Team

Favourite Club: PSG

Nickname: Bex

Favourite Player: Clatous Chota Chama