Zambia women’s national team striker and captain Barbara Banda insists she will be ready for Sunday’s 2022 COSAFA Women’s Cup penultimate Group B clash against Lesotho despite limping off in Thursday’s 2-0 win over Namibia.
Banda on Thursday marked her return to the international stage with a brace in Zambia’s opening Group B match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
The striker later limped off in the 77th minute in a game where she felt Namibia’s defenders’ brunt.
“I am very much OK. It was just a small pain, and we still have more games to come, so I just need to rest this one,” Banda said.
Banda, who missed the 2022 Women’s AFCON after she was withdrawn from the tournament in Morocco due to medical reasons, made a statement of intent on Thursday.
Her first goal came as early as the 7th minute when midfielder Avell Chitundu placed the ball into the unmarked strikers’ path to make it one-nil.
Banda‘s second came from a similar position in the 71st in a one-two with Ochumba Lubanji to help Zambia make a promising start to their COSAFA Women’s Cup campaign.
“It is a great feeling to play for the nation again, and I am so happy and excited. I want to thank my teammates because, without them, I wouldn’t have done it, and I dedicate the goals to them,” Banda said.
Zambia is back in action on September 4 in a top two Group B clash against Lesotho that could decide who goes through to the semifinals with a match to spare.
Lesotho leads Group B on goal difference following a 3-0 victory over Eswatini in the early kickoff.
