WAFCON 2026: Zambia’s Barbra Banda Leads Golden Boot Race Despite Early Exit
Zambia captain Barbra Banda remains the top scorer at the ongoing 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) despite her country's elimination from the tournament.
The prolific striker took her tally to five goals after finding the net in Zambia's 2-1 victory over Malawi on Wednesday, strengthening her position at the top of the Golden Boot standings.
Banda currently enjoys a two-goal advantage over Malawi's Temwa Chawinga, Ivory Coast's Inès Konan, and Cameroon's Marie Ngah, who have each scored three goals.
However, the Orlando Pride forward's impressive individual performances were not enough to keep Zambia in the competition. The Copper Queens finished third in Group C behind Nigeria and Malawi, ending their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's attacking trio of Uchenna Kanu, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Asisat Oshoala remain in contention for the Golden Boot after each scoring two goals. With the Super Falcons advancing to the knockout stage, all three will have opportunities to close the gap on Banda in the remaining matches.
2026 WAFCON Top Scorers
Barbra Banda (Zambia) – 5 goals
Temwa Chawinga (Malawi) – 3 goals
Inès Konan (Ivory Coast) – 3 goals
Marie Ngah (Cameroon) – 3 goals
Uchenna Kanu (Nigeria) – 2 goals
Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria) – 2 goals
Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria) – 2 goals
As the tournament enters the knockout rounds, the race for the Golden Boot remains wide open, with several forwards still in action and capable of catching the current leader.
Opinion:
Barbra Banda's performances have once again demonstrated why she is regarded as one of Africa's finest forwards. Scoring five goals in the group stage is an outstanding achievement, but it also highlights the harsh reality of tournament football—individual brilliance alone cannot guarantee team success.
With Zambia out of the competition, Banda's chances of finishing as the tournament's top scorer now depend on whether her closest challengers can overtake her in the knockout rounds. Nigeria's attacking trio, in particular, will fancy their chances if the Super Falcons continue progressing.
The Golden Boot race adds another layer of excitement to WAFCON, but for players still in contention, team success will ultimately remain the bigger prize.
