Copper Queens skipper Barbra Banda has reached out to fans following Zambia’s elimination from the ongoing Paris Olympics, where the team lost all three of their group games and exited the women’s football tournament.

Banda, who scored four goals in three matches, made headlines after becoming the only female kuplayer in the history of the competition to score three hat tricks at the Olympics. She had scored two during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics which was held in 2021 and added another hat trick in Zambia’s 5-6 defeat against Australia at this year’s edition.

On Saturday, Banda took to social media to express her gratitude and pride in representing her country, stating, “Always proud to put on my country’s shirt and every time we try to do our best with my teammates to make our devoted fans proud.”

Zambia made their debut in the Olympics in 2021 in Tokyo and also appeared at the Women’s World Cup in 2023. Many Zambian supporters hoped the Copper Queens would perform better at the Olympics, having gained some experience from previous tournaments.

Barbra Banda makes promise

Banda acknowledged the team’s shortcomings and the disappointment felt by the fans, saying, “We know we let you down and did not perform to your expectations, but we will go back and work even harder so that we can again come back to the big stage to try and do better by giving it our very best.”

Banda concluded her heartfelt letter with an apology and a message of appreciation: “Sorry for letting you down, and thank you for always standing with us both in the good and bad times.”

The Copper Queens’ next big assignment will be at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament in Morocco, where they will return to the country where they won a bronze medal in the 2022 edition of the same tournament.

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