Zambia captain Barbara Banda has described their debut COSAFA Women’s Championship victory final triumph as an amazing feeling.
Banda propelled Zambia to their maiden COSAFA Women’s Cup title with an extra-time goal in the 108th minute following a 1-0 win over hosts Banyana Banyana at Nelson Mandela Bay.
It was Zambia’s second shot at the COSAFA Women’s Cup title after losing 1-0 to South Africa in 2019 when they reached their debut final.
WHAT BANDA SAID…
“It has not been easy, but I think we put in every effort as a team. We have worked hard as a team, and I think we deserve the Cup,” Banda said.
“It feels so amazing to lift the cup; it is just so amazing, and we happy to have put a smile on the faces of the Zambian people.”
Zambia cruised to the final unbeaten with five straight wins scoring a monstrous 15 goals, and conceded just one goal en route to the final.
Ten out of those goals were scored by Banda, who took home the 2023 COSAFA Women’s Cup Golden Boot and Most Valuable Player awards.
“We were determined, we really wanted it, and everyone put in their best effort, and as a team, we are moving forward at a good pace,” Banda added.
Zambia’s COSAFA Women’s Cup triumph came less than three months after qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time.
The team secured their FIFA World Cup spot after reaching the 2022 Women’s AFCON semifinals in Morocco, where they went on to finish third.
That WAFCON milestone was also the first time Zambia had made it out of the group stage of the tournament from three continental championship appearances.
Zambia will be heading to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup together with Nigeria, Morocco and African champions South Africa.
Australia and New Zealand will stage the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup from July 20 to August 20.
