Both Copper Queens record breaker Barbra Banda and Zambia’s emerging star Mercy Chipasula have received nominations for the coveted 2025 AUSC Region Five Sports Awards, which will take place on May 24, 2025.
Chipasula, who has helped Zambia qualify to two consecutive FIFA U17 Women’s World is in contention for the Junior Female Sportsperson of the Year award. Her stellar performances at the junior level have caught the attention of many including Copper Queens coach Nora Hauptle who has drafted her in the senior team.
Chipasula received the 2024 Zambia Sports Awards’ Best Female Young Sports Personality award last weekend.
Meanwhile, Banda is vying for the coveted Sportswoman of the Year award against Malawian sensation Tabitha Chawinga, and Botswana’s accomplished track and field athlete, Oratile Nowe.
Banda heads into the award with reputation from last year having managed to finish joint second-highest goal-scorer at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games with 4 goals in three matches.
This included a remarkable hat-trick in Zambia’s 6-5 heart breaking defeat against Australia. She became the first player in women’s football history to score three hat-tricks at the Olympic Games, adding to her consecutive hat-tricks at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Barbra Banda Had A Brillant 2024.
After the Olympics, Banda started life at Orlando Pride where she scored 13 goals, with six assists to help them to the 2024 NWSL title, the team first league triumph.
Banda won the 2024 NWSL MVP award and earned a spot in the 2024 NWSL Best XI First Team.
She also received international recognition as a finalist for the Ballon d’Or and first African woman to be selected in the FIFPRO Women’s World 11 in 2024.
Banda lifted the CAF African Women’s Footballer of the Year and the 2024 BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.
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