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Zambian footballer Barbra Banda has been named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, edging out major rivals.
The 24-year-old forward, who currently plays for Orlando Pride, received the most votes from fans after a five-player shortlist was announced.
Banda’s outstanding year included top-tier performances at both the 2024 Olympics and the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL).
The award was decided by a fan vote on the BBC Sport website, after a shortlist of five players was announced in October.
The shortlist was compiled by a panel of football experts from around the world, including coaches, players, and journalists.
Banda received the highest number of votes, edging out strong contenders such as Spain’s Aitana Bonmati, USA’s Sophia Smith, Norway’s Caroline Graham Hansen, and USA’s Naomi Girma.
Spain and Barcelona midfielder Aitana Bonmati came second in the voting, while USA and Po
Barbra Banda’s WAFCON Controversy
Banda was famously withdrawn from the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after failing to meet gender eligibility standards related to testosterone levels.
Her exclusion from the tournament caused a stir, drawing attention to the ongoing controversy over gender regulations in women’s sports.
Despite this setback, Banda’s performances during the award period, from September 2023 to August 2024, were undeniable.
She scored four goals for Zambia at the Paris Olympics, including a first-half hat-trick against Australia, making her the leading African goalscorer in Olympic history with 10 goals.
In the NWSL, she joined Orlando Pride in March and went on to score 13 goals in the regular season, followed by four goals in the playoffs, including the game-winning goal in the NWSL championship final. She was also named MVP of the league.
The Zambia captain, who came 12th in the 2024 Women’s Ballon d’Or, is a former professional boxer who won all of her five bouts before switching focus to football.
She became the second-most expensive women’s signing in history – behind Zambia team-mate Racheal Kundananji – when she joined Pride from Chinese club Shanghai Shengli $740,000 (£581,000) in March.
“I’m shocked and surprised to have this award right by my side,” Banda said after being named the winner.
“I am out of words to describe the feeling. All I can say is thank you to everyone— the organizers at @bbcsport, the experts who chose me for the nominee shortlist, and each and everyone of you who voted.”
“My aim is always to score because I love scoring, but it all starts from practice, having good training sessions, and good talks with my coaches and teammates.”
“It has not been easy, but hard work and consistency have really helped.”
Banda’s journey to success has been anything but smooth. Growing up in Zambia, she faced challenges as a young girl wanting to play football in a society that often discouraged girls from pursuing sports.
“It is so difficult for us to get into sport like football. Parents never used to believe that women could play football, so it was a challenge.”
“My mum was not in support of it, but when women’s football started being recognized in Zambia, she came to understand and let me do what I love.”
“To the young girl in Africa dreaming big, keep that dream and work hard, I’m telling you it does come true,” she said in her acceptance message.
Barbra Banda’s victory however, serves as a reminder of the ongoing debate over gender eligibility rules in women’s sports.
Some argue that these regulations are outdated and unfairly target athletes like Banda, whose gender identity and natural hormone levels have been scrutinized in ways that male athletes are not.
Banda’s coach at Orlando Pride, Seb Hines, defended her, saying, “It is great to see Barbra getting acknowledged for what she has done, not only for our club but for African football.”
“She is super humble and a good person, and that means a lot to us to have good people in our team. She is a team player, and for all of the accolades that she has won, she puts the team first.”
