COPPER Queens captain Barbra Banda has been shortlisted for the 2025 Women’s Ballon d’Or, marking her second nomination for football’s most prestigious individual accolade. Banda, who finished 12th in last year’s rankings, is once again among the elite 30 players vying for the award, which honours the best female footballer in the world. The winner will be announced at a glitzy ceremony in Paris on September 22. Banda is one of only two Africans on the 2025 shortlist, alongside Malawi international Temwa Chawinga, underlining the growing influence of Southern African talent on the global stage. Her nomination among the world’s best is not only a personal achievement but also a landmark moment for Zambian football. The Copper Queens skipper continues...