Zambian teenage sensation Joseph “Sabobo” Banda stole the show in Zambia’s 3-2 victory over Sierra Leone in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Tuesday at the Levy Mwanawansa stadium in Ndola.
The 18-year-old, who rose to fame in 2021 at the age of 15 during the COSAFA U-17 championship, signed a five-year contract with Swiss top-flight club FC Zurich in January from Athletico Lusaka.
He scored his first goal for Zurich on his Swiss Super League debut on August 11 of this year, coming on as a second-half substitute in the 67th minute to make it 2-0 against Lausanne.
His move to Zurich followed successful trials at the club in May 2023. He was part of the club’s youth team that won the Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup 2023 as part of the assessment.
“I want to go to Europe and succeed; I don’t want to come back. I’ll put in a lot of effort and achieve my dreams,” he told BolaNews ahead of his move to Zurich.
Sabobo, who also attended trials at FC Barcelona in Spain in 2022, received his first senior call-up from Avram Grant. He made his Chipolopolo debut against Ivory Coast last Friday, playing only two minutes in a 2-0 loss.
Sabobo salutes his mother after making his dream debut for Chipolopolo
On Tuesday, the former Nkwazi and Red Arrows winger made his national team home debut, replacing US Lecce winger Lameck Banda.
Following his introduction, Sabobo kept the Leone Stars on their toes for the final 45 minutes of the game. He launched multiple attacks, resulting in the Chipolopolo scoring twice and securing their first competitive win of the year.
He was unlucky not to get an assist in the game after dribbling past two defenders and expertly setting up Kennedy Musonda, whose close-range header was brilliantly saved by Mohamed Kamara.
Sabobo, who spent the entire season on loan at Nkwazi FC last year after unsuccessful trials at Barcelona, revealed that his single mother always encouraged him to keep working hard even when many thought he failed to reach his full potential at a young age.
“I was hurt and always wondered why my friends were not coming back after attending trials in Europe and it was only me who was returning home.
“It affected me a lot, but my mother has been telling me to continue working hard as my time will come.”
The Chaisa-born attacker is unquestionably one of Zambian football’s most exciting prospects. He thanks his mother for constantly reminding him that his time to play in Europe and with the national team would come.
“My mother always advised me to have faith in myself and she assured me that my dreams would eventually come true.
“Vamos! [let’s go] I am here now,” he excitedly reacted after the match on Tuesday in Ndola.
Sabobo hopes to cement his spot on the national team after Avram Grant praised his performance in Tuesday’s match, emphasizing his desire and fighting spirit.
