Emma Hayes, the head coach of the U.S. women’s national team, praised Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda’s ability to score goals, calling her the best striker in the world right now.
Banda has been on fire in the US, scoring goals week-in-week-out since joining Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) earlier this year in March.
With 12 goals in just 12 games, she is presently tied for the league’s Golden Boot lead. Her goals have helped the Pride stay undefeated and atop the league standings with 11 victories and five draws in 16 games.
With the 2024 Paris Olympic Women’s Football Tournament scheduled to begin in seven days, Banda, who is presently in camp with the Copper Queens, will lead her team against the Hayes-coached USWNT.
The Copper Queens are making their second appearance at the Olympics and will open their campaign against USWNT on July 25.
Hayes on Banda being the best striker in the world
Banda is currently the best striker in the world, according to Hayes, who made this claim while speaking with former USWNT player Sam Mewis on stage for an interview with The Women’s Game last Monday.
“Zambia on form probably have the best striker in the world right now, banging in the goals — I say on form because I never want Sammy Kerr to phone me up later and remind me, which she will I might add, no matter the hour,” Hayes said with laugh as quoted by Pro Soccer Wire.
She added: “With Zambia, you have a team that will play less progressive passes, i.e. control the game in a certain way. But if you play man for man all over the pitch against them, it’s going to be a difficult game.”
“Their ability to transition is better than any team I’ve seen in world football. We’ve been watching them, unbelievable their ability to go from back to front. So for us, structure becomes essential. That becomes the bedrock, what we do in possession and how we’re thinking about what happens when there is a turnover to be able to get those things right.”
Zambia, will also face Germany and Australia to conclude their group stage matches and Banda who became the first player in Olympic history to score back-to-back hat-tricks will look to break more records at the Paris edition.
