Banda began her overseas career in Spain and China. In , she signed with the Pride for the second-highest transfer fee in women's football history. Banda has represented Zambia internationally since She is Africa's all-time top scorer in Olympic football history, having scored three hat tricks at two Olympic Games.
Banda was born in Lusaka , the Zambian capital. She began playing football around the age of seven playing on the streets. After being inspired by Zambian professional boxer Catherine Phiri , Banda started boxing around age 14 [ 4 ] first as an amateur and then after never losing a bout and other amateurs refusing to fight her, she turned professional. On 7 March , the National Women's Soccer League club Orlando Pride announced that they had signed Banda to a four-year contract through the season.
She was named the championship's MVP. She turned 14 during the tournament. Banda captained the Zambian squad at the Olympics in Tokyo, the first time Zambia competed at the international tournament. The match ended 3—10, the worst ever loss for the Zambia women's national football team and the highest-scoring women's football match in Olympics history. She became the first woman footballer in Olympic history to score back-to-back hat tricks and the first to score two hat tricks in one tournament.
On 6 July , Banda and three teammates, including striker Racheal Kundananji , were ruled ineligible to compete for Zambia in the World Cup-qualifying tournament, Africa Cup of Nations , after a gender verification test found that their natural testosterone levels were above those allowed by the Confederation of African Football , which has stricter gender verification rules than the Olympics. Banda was given the rank of sergeant, the highest among the group.
On 7 July , she scored two goals, including the game-winner in the 12th minute of injury time , against FIFA 2- ranked Germany , leading ranked Zambia to an astounding 3—2 upset. Banda was named Player of the Match. On 9 April , she scored a brace in a 2—0 away extra-time victory over Morocco , qualifying her nation to the Summer Olympics by winning the home-and-away series 3—2 on aggregate.
