Zambia’s Copper Queens captain Barbra Banda and goalkeeper Hazel Natasha Nali have been nominated for the 2026 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards following the announcement of the nominees across the women’s categories.
Banda has been shortlisted for the prestigious Women’s Player of the Year award, while Nali is among the 10 nominees for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year accolade.
The nominations provide further recognition of Zambia’s growing presence in African women’s football, with the two Copper Queens stars featuring among the continent’s leading performers.
Banda, who plays for American side Orlando Pride, previously won the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award in 2024, becoming the first Zambian to claim the honour. She will now be hoping to add a second continental individual accolade to her collection.
The 26-year-old faces competition from Algeria’s Marine Dafeur, Cameroon’s Marie Ngah Manga, Michaely Bihina and Monique Ngock, Ghana’s Portia Boakye, Malawi’s Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga, Morocco’s Hanane Aït El Haj and South Africa’s Thembi Kgatlana.
Meanwhile, Nali has been recognised in the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year category after earning a place among the 10 shortlisted players.
The Zambia international will compete against Algeria’s Chloe N’Gazi, Cameroon’s Michaely Bihina, Ghana’s Cynthia Konlan, Malawi’s Mercy Sikelo, Mali’s Fatoumata Karantao, Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi, Nigeria’s Christiana Uzoma, Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye and South Africa’s Kaylin Swart.
Beyond the individual nominations, the 2026 CAF Awards will also recognise achievements at national team level.
The nominees for the Women’s National Team of the Year award are Algeria, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa.
Zambia, however, does not feature on the published shortlist for the national team award.
The Women’s Young Player of the Year category also features 10 nominees, including Benin’s Romaine Gandonou, Cameroon’s Maëva Nyandjou, Côte d’Ivoire’s Grace-Ruth Servy and N’Sira Ouédraogo, Malawi’s Rose Kadzere, Morocco’s Kautar Azraf, Nigeria’s Seimeyeha Janet Akekoromowei and Oluwakemi Adegbuyi, Senegal’s Adji Ndiaye and Tanzania’s Winfrida Gerald.
The 2026 CAF Awards ceremony is scheduled for Monday, December 7, in Lagos, Nigeria, at the Wole Soyinka Centre.
The annual awards celebrate outstanding performances and achievements in African football over the eligibility period, bringing together the continent’s leading players, coaches, teams and administrators.
For Zambia, attention will be firmly on Banda and Nali as the Copper Queens duo look to turn their nominations into continental honours.
