Barbra Banda expecting a tough match against Germany 

Copper Queens’ captain Barbra Banda is expecting a tough game against Germany tomorrow when the team will conclude their group matches. 

Banda says the team wants to end the tournament with a bang hence everyone is focused on tomorrow’s game. 

The Orlando Pride forward believes the team has learned lessons from the two games they have played and just have to pull their socks heading into the final group game. 

“The Germany game will be one of the toughest games. We are hoping for the best and I still believe that as a team we are still focused and looking forward to tomorrow’s game. We want to end on a strong note,” she said. 

“We have learned a lot, we played against a good USA team and lost, we came into the second game and almost won but we ended up losing but we now focused on the Germany game. The lessons have been there , we have learned a lot, each one of us has gained experience, we know what is expected and we just have to pull up our socks.”

Zambia beat Germany last year in an international friendly match ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup but Banda does not want to dwell on the past as Football keeps improving everyday. 

“Football has really improved, we can’t rely on the game we won against them (Germany), we just have to be focused and determined it will be a very rough game but we just have to end the group stage very strong,” she said. 

Banda has been busy encouraging her teammates after the capitulation against the Matildas as she believes the team needs everyone to flourish. 

Banda made history in the match against Australia when she scored a hat-trick to become the first as only female football player to score three hat-tricks in Olympics history. 

“It’s my job and I can’t stop talking and encouraging my teammates, it’s a team, we need everyone, my word to the team is that we stay strong, we work as a team , learn something together and if we lose we lose as a team. It’s very important for us to encourage each other and work on our mistakes. Our technical bench has seen the mistakes we made, they are taking us through and whatever we are told we have to implement in the next game,” she said. 

“I am proud of myself for that record, but it still goes back to the team. It’s with their help that I am doing this. I was hoping to do more but it did not go to our plan. If I get a chance again we try to utilise my chances and opportunities.”

The Copper Queens will face Germany tomorrow in their final group game at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint Étienne. 

Kick off is set for 19h00 Central African Time.