Copper Queens’ captain Barbra Banda has been nominated for the 2024 FIFA Best Player Award. The BBC Women’s player of the year and NWSL Championship MVP is among the 16 players nominated for the prestigious award. Banda and Malawi forward Tabitha Chawinga are the only two Africans nominated for the award. She will face competition from favorite Aitana Bonmati, USA contingent of Mallory Swanson, Trinity Rodman, Naomi Girma and Sophia Smith. Barcelona ace Salma Paralluelo , Lucy Bronze, Khadija Bunny Shaw and Kera Walsh are also nominated for the prestigious award. The Zambia Women’s National Team captain is also among the 22 attackers available for selection for the FIFA Best Women’s 11. Fans can vote for the FIFA Best 11 on the FIFA website. New FIFA Marta Award added to specifically celebrate the best goal scored in women’s football. Voting is now open on FIFA.com across a number of award categories, with fans set to play a key role in choosing the winners. Voting for The Best FIFA Men’s Player, The Best FIFA Women’s Player, The Best FIFA Men’s Coach, The Best FIFA Women’s Coach, The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper and The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper will be equally weighted between fans, the current captains and coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams, and media representatives. The winner of the FIFA Fan Award will be chosen entirely by fans, while the recipient of the FIFA Fair Play Award will be decided by an expert panel. Voting for the new FIFA Marta Award and the FIFA Puskás Award will be split equally between fans and a panel of FIFA Legends. The biggest change in terms of voting for this year’s edition of The Best FIFA Football Awards is that fans will have their say in selecting The Best FIFA Men’s 11 and The Best FIFA Women’s 11. They will be able to choose from a list of 77 nominated players – 22 defenders, midfielders and forwards apiece, plus 11 goalkeepers – slotting them into one of several preset tactical formations to build their team. Votes will be weighted equally between fans and an expert panel. Voting is open on FIFA.com until 23:59 CET on Tuesday, 10 December 2024. The rules of allocation for all awards are available at the FIFA Digital Hub. The Best FIFA Women’s Player nominees Aitana Bonmatí (Spain), Barcelona Barbra Banda (Zambia), Shanghai Shengli/Orlando Pride Caroline Graham Hansen (Norway), Barcelona Keira Walsh (England), Barcelona Khadija Shaw (Jamaica), Manchester City Lauren Hemp (England), Manchester City Lindsey Horan (USA), Olympique Lyonnais Lucy Bronze (England), Barcelona/Chelsea Mallory Swanson (USA), Chicago Red Stars Mariona Caldentey (Spain), Barcelona/Arsenal Naomi Girma (USA), San Diego Wave Ona Batlle (Spain), Barcelona Salma Paralluelo (Spain), Barcelona Sophia Smith (USA), Portland Thorns Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi), Paris Saint-Germain/Olympique Lyonnais Trinity Rodman (USA), Washington Spirit The Best FIFA Men’s Player nominees Dani Carvajal (Spain), Real Madrid Erling Haaland (Norway), Manchester City Federico Valverde (Uruguay), Real Madrid Florian Wirtz (Germany), Bayer Leverkusen Jude Bellingham (England), Real Madrid Kylian Mbappé (France), Paris Saint-Germain/Real Madrid Lamine Yamal (Spain), Barcelona Lionel Messi (Argentina), Inter Miami Rodri (Spain), Manchester City Toni Kroos (Germany), Real Madrid (now retired) Vinícius Jr (Brazil), Real Madrid The Best FIFA Women’s Coach nominees Arthur Elias (Brazil), Brazil Elena Sadiku (Sweden), Celtic Emma Hayes (England), Chelsea/USA Futoshi Ikeda (Japan), Japan Gareth Taylor (England), Manchester City Jonatan Giráldez (Spain), Barcelona/Washington Spirit Sandrine Soubeyrand (France), Paris FC Sonia Bompastor (France), Olympique Lyonnais/Chelsea The Best FIFA Men’s Coach nominees Carlo Ancelotti (Italy), Real Madrid Lionel Scaloni (Argentina), Argentina Luis de la Fuente (Spain), Spain Pep Guardiola (Spain), Manchester City Xabi Alonso (Spain), Bayer Leverkusen The Best FIFA Women’s Goalkeeper nominees Alyssa Naeher (USA), Chicago Red Stars Ann-Katrin Berger (Germany), Chelsea/NJ/NY Gotham Ayaka Yamashita (Japan), INAC Kobe Leonessa/Manchester City Cata Coll (Spain), Barcelona Mary Earps (England), Manchester United/Paris Saint-Germain The Best FIFA Men’s Goalkeeper nominees Andriy Lunin (Ukraine), Real Madrid David Raya (Spain), Arsenal Ederson (Brazil), Manchester City Emiliano Martínez (Argentina), Aston Villa Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy), Paris Saint-Germain Mike Maignan (France), AC Milan Unai Simón (Spain), Athletic Club The Best FIFA Women’s 11 nominees The Best FIFA Men’s 11 nominees FIFA Marta Award nominees FIFA Puskás Award FIFA Fan Award nominees
Coach Wedson Nyirenda has named his 33-man provisional squad for this month’s 2024 TotalEnergies African Nations Championship (CHAN) final round back-to-back qualifier matches against Mozambique. Nyirenda’s assemblage comprises players in the MTN Super League and ZPL National League. It includes defender Kabaso Chongo and Dominic Chanda, and goalkeepers Lawrence Mulenga, and Charles Kalumba who were part of the Chipolopolo that secured the AFCON qualification as group winners. Zambia will be away to Mozambique on the 21 December before hosting the Mambas in the reverse fixture on 28 December. Winner over two legs will qualify for the CHAN tournament which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from February 1-28, 2025. PROVISIONAL SQUAD GOALKEEPERS Lawrence Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Jackson Kakunta (Mines United), Lucas Mainza (Nkwazi FC), Charles Kalumba (Red Arrows) DEFENDERS Mwape Mwenya (ZANACO FC), Rodgers Lukonde (Kansanshi Dynamos), David Hamansenya (Shamuel Academy), David Bulaya (NAPSA Stars), Kabaso Chongo, Killian Kanguluma (both Kabwe Warriors), Dominic Chanda (Power Dynamos), Chilimba Moonga (Green Buffaloes) MIDFIELDERS Kelvin Kapumbu (ZANACO FC), Paul Katema, Ackim Mumba (both Red Arrows), Collins Makungu (Mufulira Wanderers), Lucky Wamundila (Mines United), Kelvin Mwanza (FC MUZA), Frederick Mulambia (Power Dynamos), Kenneth Kasanga (Nkwazi FC), Golden Mashata (Green Buffaloes), Jackson Kampamba (Mutondo Stars), Timothy Sichalwe (Atletico Lusaka), Abraham Siankombo (ZESCO United), Emmanuel Mwanza (NAPSA Stars) STRIKERS Titus Chansa (Mutondo Stars), Jimmy Mukeya (NAPSA Stars), Andrew Phiri (FC MUZA), Ricky Banda (Red Arrows), Daliso Lungu (Kansanshi Dynamos), Philemon Chilimina (Chirundu United).
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) Women’s National Representative, Colonel Priscilla Katoba says the amount of potential that Women’s Football in Zambia has to represent the country at the global stage is very huge. Col Katoba believes we have only scratched the surface when it comes to Women’s Football. She was speaking in an exclusive interview […]
Copper Queens skipper Barbra Banda made the 26 player list in the running to be named in the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s Best XI. This Banda’s first ever nomination for the FIFPRO World eleven following her fantastic season with Orlando Pride in the USA’s top flight. Banda won both the NWSL shield and the NWSL Championship in a record breaking season for Seb Hines side. Banda scored 17 goals and made 7 assists in the all Competitions for the Pride and was named the NWSL Championship MVP after becoming the first player to score in all stages of the NWSL playoffs. Banda was also recently named the BBC Women’s player of the year and is nominated for the CAF Women’s player of the year and FIFA Best Women’s player of the year. Malawian captain Tabitha Chawinga has also made 26 while her sister Temwa who was amazing for KC Current in the NWSL misses out. The nominees were voted for by fellow professional football players. GOALKEEPERS 🇦🇺 Mackenzie Arnold 🏴 Mary Earps 🇨🇱 Christiane Endler DEFENDERS 🇫🇷 Selma Bacha 🇪🇸 Ona Batlle 🏴 Millie Bright 🏴 Lucy Bronze 🇪🇸 Olga Carmona 🏴 Jess Carter 🇺🇸 Naomi Girma 🏴 Alex Greenwood MIDFIELDERS 🇪🇸 Aitana Bonmati 🇧🇷 Debinha 🇳🇴 Ingrid Engen 🇺🇸 Lindsey Horan 🇪🇸 Alexia Putellas 🏴 Ella Toone 🏴 Keira Walsh FORWARDS 🇪🇸 Athenea 🇿🇲 Barbra Banda 🇨🇴 Linda Caicedo 🇲🇼 Tabitha Chawinga 🏴 Lauren James 🇧🇷 Marta 🇪🇸 Salma Paralluelo 🏴 Alessia Russo The final team will be announced on December 9, 2024.
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