Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda was crowned the 2024 CAF Women’s Player of the Year at the official awards ceremony on Monday night in Marrakech, Morocco at the Palais des Congrès. Meanwhile, FIFA referee Diana Chikotesha bagged the CAF Women’s Assistant Referee of the Year.
A number of Zambians have walked away with individual honours at Africa’s main honorary gala in the years past.
BolaNews takes a look back at Zambians who have won laurels at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards.
Kalusha Bwalya (Legends Award, Player of the Year)
Back in 1988, Chipolopolo legend Kalusha Bwalya claimed the African Player of the Year accolade, finishing ahead of Cameroon’s Roger Milla and Cote d’Ivoire’s Youssouf Fofana.
The Zambian icon left an indelible mark on the 1988 Summer Olympics, scoring six goals at the tournament, including a famous hat-trick against Italy in a 4-0 victory for Zambia. Following his illustrious career, Bwalya was feted by CAF with a Legends Award in 2003.
Clifford Mulenga (Young Player of the Year)
One player that was touted to reach the heights of Kalusha Bwalya is former Chipolopolo international Clifford Mulenga. Endowed with mesmerizing skill and outstanding technical ability, Mulenga was a joy to watch, rising to fame during his days at University of Pretoria FC.
He scored three goals for Zambia at the 2007 African Youth Championships and was a key player for the Copper Bullets at the subsequent FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. Mulenga was officially named as the 2007 CAF’s Most Promising Talent of the Year.
Patson Daka (Young Player of the Year)
A decade after Mulenga’s moment of glory, it was a déjà vu for Zambia as another prodigy going by the name of Patson Daka came into the fold. With four goals at the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations and two goals at the FIFA U-20 World Cup, he grabbed the headlines in 2017.
The title of the African Youth Player of the Year for 2017 was then bestowed upon Daka during the CAF Awards in Accra, Ghana.
