Zambia head coach Nora Häuptle has reassured fans that captain Barbra Banda’s absence in Saturday’s Four Nations Tournament clash against Kenya was purely precautionary after the striker sustained a minor hamstring injury.
The Copper Queens were forced to do without their talisman as they battled to a 1-1 draw against Kenya before prevailing 4-1 in a penalty shootout to secure a place in Tuesday’s final against Zimbabwe.
Banda picked up a slight hamstring strain during Orlando Pride’s 3-1 victory over Bay FC in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) before travelling to join the national team camp.
Speaking after the match, Häuptle explained that the decision to leave the reigning African Women’s Footballer of the Year out of the squad was made to avoid aggravating the injury.
“For Barbara, it’s not a relegation to the bench,” Häuptle said.
“She had a slight hamstring strain, so when she arrived this week, we assessed her condition and conducted an MRI.
“She’s receiving good treatment, and this is not the moment to take risks with a top player. Barbara is competing in the NWSL in the United States, where the demands are very high. If we make a mistake now, it could lead to a more serious injury.”
The Swiss coach revealed that medical examinations showed the problem was minor, prompting the technical bench to adopt a cautious approach.
“Fortunately, it’s a minor issue, but we felt it wasn’t worth taking any chances. So today, she was my assistant coach number three – that’s what we agreed on,” Häuptle joked.
Despite concerns surrounding the striker’s fitness, Häuptle is confident Banda will return to action soon.
“Don’t worry about her. She’ll be fine and should recover well within the next one to two weeks.”
On the pitch, Zambia made a bright start against Kenya, with Prisca Chilufya firing the hosts ahead after just four minutes. However, Marion Serenge struck in the 77th minute to level matters and force a penalty shootout.
The Copper Queens held their nerve from the spot, converting four penalties while limiting Kenya to just one successful attempt to book their place in the final.
Zambia will now face Zimbabwe in Tuesday’s championship match, while Kenya and Lesotho will meet in the third-place play-off.
