Banda set to get CAF Award

BY Chansa Kunda

All is set for the prestigious 2024 CAF Awards, with Copper Queens captain Barbara Banda contending for the Woman of the Year accolade.

Banda, who has had a phenomenal year—winning the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award and earning a spot in the FIFPRO World XI, among other outstanding achievements—is widely tipped to claim this year’s title.

The Orlando Pride striker, however, faces stiff competition from Nigeria’s goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy for the ultimate prize.

Having made the top three last year, Banda will be hoping to step up to the podium and be crowned the female star of the night and the year on the continent.

In the men’s category, it will be a fiercely contested race. Super Eagles and Europa League-winning player Ademola Lookman, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Côte d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra, and South Africa’s goalkeeper Ronwen Williams are among the nominees vying for the top honor.

The awards ceremony will be held in Morocco at 21:00 local time.

Should Banda win, she will become the first Zambian woman to claim the accolade and only the second Zambian player overall, after Kalusha Bwalya first and last won it in 1988.