Olympics Football: Zambia’s Banda ‘wants to become the best in the world’

The 21-year-old reveals her target after another top display saw her score three goals against China at Miyagi Stadium

Zambia captain Barbra Banda has set the target of becoming the best female footballer in the world after she grabbed her second hat-trick as Zambia drew 4-4 against China at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

The 21-year-old continued her fine run of form on Saturday after she scored her second hat-trick for the African nation at Miyagi Stadium, the first coming up in the 3-10 defeat against the Netherlands in their Group F opener three days ago.

Banda, who features for Chinese club Shanghai Shengli, has said her main target is to make sure she writes history in the game and also make sure she becomes the best player in the world.

“I like the team spirit that we have, we are working as a team and we are looking forward to the next game against Brazil, we still have hope and we have a strong feeling that we can do something in the next game,” Banda told the Zambia FA official website after the draw.

“It’s good to make history when you have the opportunity so I just have to keep on working hard and break more history. I still have a long way to go; I just have to be disciplined because I am aiming to become the best footballer in the world.”

On her performances so far in the competition, Banda said: “I am very proud of myself and the team because without them I can’t score so I just want to say thank you to my teammates for the help that they are giving me.

“Playing in the stadium where they are fans gives more confidence; the supporters are the 12th player in the stadium so it gives morale.”

On the draw against China, Banda explained: “There is a lot of improvements from the first game [against the Netherlands]. What we wanted mostly [against China] is the win but unfortunately settled for a draw.”

In Saturday’s fixture, Wang Shuang scored all four of China’s goals while the other goal for Zambia was scored by Rachael Kundananji.

With six goals at the Tokyo Games so far, Banda has equalled the record for most goals scored in a tournament which was set by Christine Sinclair of Canada at the 2012 Games in London.

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