Zambia united, ready to face Morocco in WAFCON opener – Barbra Banda

Banda - Photo Credit: Football Association of Zambia (FAZ)

Zambia women’s national team captain Barbra Banda has explained that the team’s experience, unity and focus will be key when they face hosts Morocco in the opening match of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) at Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

The Orlando Pride striker expressed confidence in the team’s readiness and cohesion to take on the North Africans in their first match ahead of the remaining matches. Zambia’s Group A campaign begins with a clash against Morocco, followed by matches against Senegal and DR Congo.

“I think the team has been together for a long time, and the experience of staying in a team is showing. When we talk about the club, I have to bring that experience from my club (Orlando Pride) and implement it with the national team, which we are working together as a team,” said Banda.

“Honestly, being an African player of the year, I am not carrying any pressure because that just keeps me moving. It's encouraging me to work harder. Being the CAF African player of the year takes a lot, but I don't have to carry that pressure,” emphasised the 2024 CAF African Women’s Player of the Year.

“I have played a lot of games, and I know how to handle pressure. A number of players in our team have been together for a long time, some of them as far back as the U17 World Cup in Costa Rica, so I think we have that connection. We know each other better now.

“It's so encouraging that we have the record of the highest African transfer player in our team (Racheal Kundananji), but that doesn't make us comfortable. It's about the team, we are all united together. We work as a team in whatever we do.”

On coming up against Morocco in the opener, Banda said. “Like the coach has said, this is a different game. We have come up with something new, and I don't think we still rely on what we had in the past. We are starting tomorrow at 0-0.”

“We know Morocco is a very good team, but we are going with our different approach, and we are sticking to our principles.”

After playing Morocco, Zambia will face Senegal on July 9 and DR Congo on July 12.