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Women’s football is growing in Zambia

The international success of Zambian footballers Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundananji is inspiring girls and young women in Zambia to take up the sport. The success of the two stars and the Zambia national women’s team is a ray of hope for many Zambian girls.

Women’s football has been on the rise in Zambia since 2016. The Zambia women’s national football program has three teams competing at the international level and filling stadiums with thousands of enthusiastic fans.

The national women’s team, known as the Copper Queens, was the first land-locked country in Africa to qualify for the World Cup in 2023.

The country also boasts the two highest-paid female soccer players in the world, Barbara Banda and Rachel Kundanji, both native Zambians now playing for teams in the United States.

Football’s governing body FIFA recently named Banda as the 2024 Women’s Footballer of the Year.

Lilian Mwenya, the youngest player on the Zambia national women's football team, is seen outside the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka, Zambia in December. 20, 2024.

Lilian Mwenya, the youngest player on the Zambia national women’s football team, is seen outside the Taj Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka, Zambia in December. 20, 2024.

Lilian Mwenda is the youngest member of the team at 15 years old.

She said, initially her parents encouraged her to focus on education, but now they are behind her football dreams.

“They are very supportive of me, especially my [on] Now there are a lot of big players in the national team. This makes me feel very happy. Even my younger brothers and sisters are looking up to me. My inspiration is Cristiano Ronaldo, but I also respect Barbara Banda and Kundanji because they inspire me. “They always work hard and reach high levels,” Mwenda said.

The growth of women’s football in Zambia has led to the development of grassroots talent across the country.

Oliver Shalala Sepiso is one of the mentors of women footballers in Zambia. She founded the Elite Ladies Football Club, which has produced female footballers for the national team as well as the Olympics.

“Young girls in Zambia have it harder than their male counterparts in the sense that the economy is not one of the best in the world. It’s clear that Zambia is quite talented, especially in terms of speed, in terms of height, so they are able to play football or soccer. “I’m one of those people who feels like I have the ability and the talent and the skills and also the time to dedicate to trying to develop these young girls,” she said.

In an exclusive interview with VOA in Lusaka, Copper Queens captain Banda said she is happy to see that young girls look up to her as a role model.

“Women’s football has become so big in Zambia. “To that little kid that’s looking up to me, I would tell them to keep chasing their dreams,” he said.

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has been a strong supporter of women’s football in the country. Speaking at a luncheon in honor of the athletes in Lusaka on Friday, he reaffirmed his administration’s support for the development of women’s football.

“Let’s not dismiss young people. When we see them for the first time we don’t like their face. We reject them. No, let’s give them a chance to prove themselves so that they can become the next Barbara, Kundananji,” he said.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino reiterated the world body’s commitment to the development of football, particularly women’s football, in Zambia during his first visit to Zambia in June.

Infantino said FIFA would invest in a training center and an academy to promote football talent and coaches in Zambia.

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