Zambian international striker Barbra Banda joins Orlando Pride of the USA National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in a record deal for the women’s game.

By signing for Orlando Pride from Shanghai Shengli, Barbra (23) has become the most expensive female player in the history of the NWSL.

Currently in her fifth season in China, Barbra scored 16 goals and made five assists as Shanghai finished Chinese Women’s Super League runners-up in 2023. Previously, she had an outstanding start to her career in Shanghai as she scored 18 goals in 13 matches in her first season for the club, thus winning the Golden Boot and helping the team onto the bronze medals in the 2020 season.

One of the most exciting strikers in the world over the last few years, Barbra began her career with Zambian side Green Buffaloes before moving on to EDF Logroño in Spain in 2018, becoming the first Zambian woman footballer to play in Europe. She scored 15 goals in 28 league matches in Spain’s Primera Division.

Having debuted with Zambia Senior Women’s National Team at the age of 16 in 2016, Barbra gained world-wide recognition with her incredible goal-scoring run at international competitions such as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2022 COSAFA Women’s Championship, and finally the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup held in Australia and New Zealand last summer. Zambia’s captain today, she continues the quest for the 2024 Paris Olympics qualification with the Copper Queens, as they have now advanced to the last qualifying round.

It was during the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 that her star-making performances began. She showcased her extraordinary scoring prowess by netting successive hat-tricks in group-stage matches against both the Netherlands and China, becoming the first player in Olympic history to realize such an achievement.

At the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Barbra etched her name in the history by netting the 1,000th goal in the tournament’s illustrious history, helping Zambia record their first ever victory at a FIFA Women’s World Cup. She capped last year by being named the IFFHS World’s Best International Goal Scorer in 2023.
Barbra was also featured on the CAF FIFPro Team of the Year for 2023 and was on the podium among the three finalists nominated for the 2023 CAF Women’s Player of the Year award.

LTA Agency congratulate Barbra on this important milestone in her life and wish her success as she embarks on an exciting journey on what-would-be-a-fourth continent in her professional football career.

Kenya international goalkeeper Lilian Awuor has joined  Romania’s top-tier football club, FC Farul Constanta 

The 24-year-old keeper moves to Romania from ASJ Soyaux a French second-tier team. At Farul Constanta, Lilian Awuor joined Laura Rus, also represented by LTA Agency.

Before Soyaux, she played with another club in France, Olympique de Valence that she joined from her home club, Vihiga Queens in Kenya.  

She played against Botswana on December 5th in Harambee Starlets’ second-leg  WAFCON Qualifiers match.

LTA Agency wish Awuor good luck at her new club.

Irene paredes have won the inaugural UEFA Women’s Nations League title and made history with Spain

World champions Spain won the title of UEFA Women’s Nations League with a dominant victory against France. Irene paredes captained the team which triumphed 2-0 at Estadio de La Cartuja in Seville, in front of a crowd of fans.

Spain’s place in the final also earned them it qualification in the Paris 2024 Olympic women’s football tournament.

Spain comfortably won their semi-final against the Netherlands to secure Olympic qualification for the first time. Irene played the entire match as her side defeated the Netherlands 3-0 in last Friday’s Women’s Nations League semi-final at the same stadium in Seville.

Women’s Nations League title is Spain’s second major trophy claimed in six months after the FIFA World Cup.

Congratulations Irene Parades for this big achievements

LTA players qualified for the third round of the 2024 Olympic Qualifiers with Cameroon, Tanzania, Ghana, Zambia, and South Africa

Ajara Nchout, Aboudi Onguene, and Ngo Mbeleck Genevieve of Cameroon, Aisha Masaka of Tanzania, Barbra Banda of Zambia, Refiloe Jane of South Africa and Ghana’s Grace Asantewaa will now battle for a place in the final playoff round.

The Cameroon women’s national team, with Ajara, Aboudi, and Ngo Mbeleck, will face Nigeria in the third round of the CAF Olympic Games qualifying campaign after their 3-0 (and 3-2 on aggregate) win over Uganda. Ajara scored a goal in the second leg. Ajara and Aboudi played in the London Olympic Games Final Tournament in 2012.

Aisha Masaka of Tanzania scored two goals in this qualifying stage (a goal in each leg) to help her side advance to the third round with a 3-0 win on aggregate against Botswana.

Ghana of Asantewaa defeated Benin 2-0 at home to easily march into the third round of qualifiers after a 3-2  victory in the first leg.

South Africa reached the third round of the African women’s qualifiers for the 2024 Olympic Games in France. Banyana Banyana have secured their spot in the third round of the Olympic qualifiers after getting the better of DR Congo in their two-legged tie. South Africa secured a 2-0 home victory and progressed to the third round with a 3-1 aggregate victory after the first leg in Kinshasa ended in a one-all draw. 

The Zambia Women’s National Team has qualified for the third round of the Paris 2024 Women’s Olympic Qualifiers following the withdrawal of their second-round opponents, Mali. Banda captained the Zambian squad at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, the first time Zambia competed at the international tournament.

Only five African countries have taken part in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament since its inception in Atlanta in 1996, namely: Nigeria (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008), Cameroon (2012), South Africa (2012, 2016), Zimbabwe (2016), and Zambia (2020).

The third round of these playoffs will take place from February 23–28, 2024.

Fixtures:

Ghana – Zambia
Tunisia – Morocco
Cameroun – Nigeria
Tanzania – South Africa

The women’s tournament in Paris 2024 will run from July 25 to August 10.

Only two teams will represent Africa at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Romanian international goalkeeper Andreea Paraluta has joined Fortuna Hjorring on loan from Levante

Andreea has been a Levante UD goalkeeper since 2018. She joined the Danish top flight on loan until the end of the 2023–2024 season.

Fortune Hjorring is currently ranked fourth in the Danish first division.

Andreea is a Romanian national team goalkeeper with more than 38 caps. She is regarded as one of Romania’s best goalie talents. She played with Atlético de Madrid, whith whom she won a league title and two cup titles, before signing with Levante. She also won domestic titles.

Irene Paredes of FC Barcelona, Aivi Luik, and Aisha Masaka of BK Häcken are LTA ’s players who qualified for the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2023/24 quarterfinal

Going to the knockout stages of the competition, there were many LTA players present before being trimmed to three after the group stage. Irene Paredes, Aivi Luik, and Aisha Masaka are still running for the trophy of the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2023/24.

FC Barcelona are the reigning holders. They have managed to finish in the first spot in Group A with three matches won and one draw. The Spanish champion will face Norwegian team Brann in the quarterfinals, which are scheduled for March 21 and March 28.

Aivi Luik and Aisha Masaka qualified with BK Häcken. Our players have produced exceptional performances to help their team reach the quarterfinals. Having faced Chelsea, Paris FC, and Real Madrid in the group stage, they ended second in Group D. Sweden’s vice-champions will come up against French outfit PSG in their quarterfinal.

Here is the full set of fixtures to come.

Quarter-finals: first leg 19-20 March and second leg 27-28 March 2024
Brann vs. Barcelona
Benfica vs. Lyon
Ajax vs. Chelsea
BK Hacken vs. PSG

Semi-finals: first leg 20–21 April and second leg 27–28 April 2024
Brann/Barcelona vs. Ajax/Chelsea
Benfica/Lyon vs. Hacken/PSG

Good luck to our three players for the 2023/24 UWCL quarters.

Ajara has made an impressive debut in the Arabian Premier League. The Cameroonian forward scored a goal on her first appearance with Al Qadsiah FC

Ajara has quickly adapted to her new club and has showcased her skills in the Arabian Premier League. In her first match for Al Qadsiah FC, she came on as a substitute in the second half and managed to score the only goal that secured her team’s victory. Al Qadsiah FC defeated Ittihad Bassioun 1-0 away.

LTA Agency congratulate Ajara and wish her more goals in Saudi Arabia.

Mahira scored a treble in her first appearance with Tutankhamun FC, helping them beat Ittihad Bassioun 11-0

Egyptian international Mahira Ali has marked her comeback in the Egyptian top flight on a high note.

The talented midfielder recently signed with Tutankhamun FC from FC Kryvbas (Ukraine), and she wasted no time in making an impact on the pitch.

In her first match for her new club, she scored three goals to help Tutankhamun smashed Ittihad Bassioun 11-0 at home.

LTA Agency congratulate Mahira and wish her good luck for the rest of the season.

Cameroon international striker Nchout Ajara Njoya has signed in Saudi Arabia with Al Qadsiah Women’s Sports Club

Former Inter Milan striker Ajara Njoya has joined Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah FC. That is the seventh country where she brings her football skills.

Ajara, who previously had spells with Vålerenga and Sandviken, scored ten goals in 44 appearances for Inter, whom she joined from the Spanish side Atlético Madrid in 2021.

Ajara who was nominated for CAF Awards 2023 in Category Player of the Year has a lot of experiences with  Indomitable Lionesses. She scored a goal to help Cameroon qualify for the third Round of the Olympic Qualifiers with a victory (3-2 on aggregate) over Uganda.

She has appeared in two FIFA Women’s World Cups (2015 and 2019) with Cameroon, helping the team advance to the Round of 16 in 2019 as she scored her team’s only two goals in the group stage. She also featured in four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (2014, 2016, 2018, 2022), helping the team to second place in both the 2014 and 2016 tournaments and third place in 2018.

We wish Ajara good luck and a lot of success with Al Qadsiah.

Mahira Ali signed a contract with a top Egyptian outfit Tutankhamun FC

The Egyptian midfielder is back at home after helping Kryvbas finish the 2022-2023 season in the second position and reach the Ukrainian Cup semi-final in 2023. She played her first ever UEFA Champions League matches with Kryvbas that she help to reached the round of 16.

Prior to Kryvbas, she played for Wadi Degla, El Gouna, and Aimz Egypt. The international midfielder also played in Canada for the Oakville Blue Devils.

LTA Agency wish Mahira good luck at her new club.