By Molly Appleton 23/7/24
Above: Zambian superstar Barbara Banda. Photo: Zambian national team.
When Australia faces Zambia in the final group game of the Olympics, they will face one of the world’s best strikers.
Cast your mind back to 2021 Olympics — Barbra Banda well and truly announced herself on the world stage bagging back-to-back hat-tricks. Terrifyingly, the Zambian forward has only got better since.
Most recently, her goals have been vital for Zambia to qualify for Paris against the rising power of Morocco.
But this is about what’s happened since these moments that should raise goosebumps in every Matildas’ fan.
Banda made the switch from the Chinese Super League to the centre stage that is America’s NWSL. The highly publicised move to Orlando Pride landed her at a club that has struggled to reach the lofty heights perhaps expected.
But that seems to suddenly be changing with Pride leading the pack from the top unbeaten. And what’s changed? Banda has arrived.
In a top of the table clash against Kansas City during the last round before the Olympic break, Orlando went down a player in the 42”. Despite being level at the time of the offending red card, there was belief it didn’t matter.
With a player down, Orlando showed tenacity and discipline off the ball, which provided the foundation to unleash Banda. Her run at defenders and pass across the box created the opportunity that led to the eventual penalty. And victory.
Much like Orlando with Marta and Adriana, Banda isn’t the only fire power Zambia offers. They’re a side that includes briefly-world record transfer breaking forward Racheal Kundananji who flourished in Spain and looks to be slowly finding her feet at Bay FC.
This support is what makes things more dangerous as Banda will easily draw in defenders only to lay it off for a teammate to have a sitter instead.
How Orlando rallied to beat Kansas is a similar game plan that Zambia would be expected to bring to the Olympics. If the African nation can learn from their past mistakes and tighten things at the back like they’ve shown capable of in continental competitions, they will only need a half chance to score – and that’ll likely come from their leader who shoots on sight.
Australians should know what it’s like to have a world class player capable of providing the spectacular. One worthy of hinging expectations on. We have Sam Kerr.
It’s easy to draw comparisons between Banda and Kerr. They’re both goal scoring machines, terrifying when running with the ball and can score. Perhaps the differences lie with how Kerr has developed since leaving the NWSL and being more disciplined holding the line and less likely to take on those half-pitch runs. But what Banda does provide is perhaps a deadlier shot.
When pitted against a player the quality of Banda the one hope is they’re not in form. That’s unlikely to be the case at these Olympics.
The Pride forward is buzzing from 12 goals in 12 NWSL matches. Just sprinkle in five assists and it’s difficult to think of a player more in form.
Will we see another back-to-back hat-trick? However unlikely that seems, it simply can’t be dismissed. And for that reason, while the prospect of Banda at her full powers this Olympics is terrifying, she could also bring the most memorable moments of the tournament.
Follow Impetus on social media –
Twitter (X): @impetusfootball TikTok: @impetusfootball
Facebook: @impetuswomensfootball Instagram: @impetusfootball
impetusfootball.org 