DON’T COUNT US OUT – BANDA’S MESSAGE TO FANS AHEAD OF WAFCON

25.06.2025 | Football DNA

As the countdown to the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) draws near, Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda has sent a strong and heartfelt message to Zambian fans: don’t lose faith in us.

Speaking during the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON Stars Spotlight Webinar, Banda addressed growing expectations and the weight of leading a team into one of Africa’s most prestigious tournaments. With Zambia set to open their WAFCON 2024 campaign against hosts Morocco on 5 July, the skipper made it clear that the Copper Queens remain as determined as ever to make the nation proud.

“To our fans back home in Zambia, [they] should not look down on us. We are still the Copper Queens and we will make you proud,” Banda stated passionately. “What we need is support from you back home. Your support means a lot to us.”

Zambia is drawn in Group A alongside Morocco, Senegal, and DR Congo, and will be aiming to finish among the top two teams to secure a spot in the knockout stages. Banda noted that the team's unity and shared ambition are the driving forces behind their WAFCON push.

Despite her growing list of accolades—including being named the 2024 CAF African Women’s Footballer of the Year, BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, and the first African player in the FIFPRO Women’s World 11—Banda maintains that individual glory comes second to the team’s collective success.

“Honestly, football is a team sport. I create all those records with my team because I need my players to assist me. I can’t score without my teammates,” she said.

When asked about the pressure of leading the team, Banda responded with calm confidence: “I would say I am not having any pressure because I think at my stage now I have played a lot of games—competitive games—at the international level. I know how to handle it.”

As the Copper Queens gear up for what promises to be a thrilling WAFCON campaign, Banda remains focused on the mission ahead. Her message is clear: Zambia is ready, united, and not to be counted out.

“That just keeps on motivating me to work hard… and the rest, I think, God is doing it, is working,” she added.

The journey begins 5 July. Zambia, get ready to rally behind your Queens.