Grace Chanda (born 11 June 1997) is a Zambian professional Association football, football midfielder who plays for the Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) and the Zambia women's national football team, Zambia national team. Chanda previously played in her native Zambia with ZESCO United F.C., ZESCO United and the Red Arrows F.C., Red Arrows, as well as in Kazakhstan with BIIK Shymkent, BIIK Kazygurt and in Spain for Madrid CFF. She was one of three players shortlisted for African Women's Footballer of the Year in 2022.

Club career

Early years

In 2018, Chanda scored 86 goals in 26 games for ZESCO United F.C., ZESCO United. Ahead of the newly created FAZ Women's Super Division national championship in 2021, Chanda signed for Red Arrows F.C., Red Arrows. Red Arrows finished second behind Green Buffaloes Women F.C., Green Buffaloes but individually Chanda won the golden boot for the 2021 season, scoring 35 goals in total, and was named Football Association of Zambia, FAZ Women's Player of the Year.

BIIK Kazygurt, 2022

In March 2022, Chanda signed with BIIK Kazygurt of the Kazakhstani women's football championship, Kazakhstani Championship. On 18 August 2022, she scored a hat-trick on her UEFA Women's Champions League debut in a 5–1 victory over ŽNK Split during the 2022–23 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying rounds#Tournament 3, 2022–23 UEFA Women's Champions League qualifying stage. She was the first Zambian women's footballer to do so.

Madrid CFF, 2022–2024

On 3 September 2022, Chanda signed with Madrid CFF in Spain's top division Liga F on a two-year contract. She made her debut on 24 September during a 3–1 win against FC Levante Las Planas. In October, she scored a goal and provided an assist to help lift Madrid to a 4–0 win over Real Betis Féminas, Real Betis. During the team's match against Atlético Madrid Femenino, Atlético Madrid, she scored the equalizer goal after subbing in at the half resulting in a 1–1 draw. She finished the 2022–23 season with three goals and two assists. Madrid finished in fifth place. Chanda spent the majority of the 2023–24 season sidelined having been taken ill at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup in July 2023. She remained in hospital in New Zealand throughout August, eventually returning to light training with Madrid in September although did not return to playing until May 2024.

Orlando Pride, 2024–

On 30 May 2024, Orlando Pride of the National Women's Soccer League announced the signing of Chanda as a free agent until 2025 with an option for 2026. She was scheduled to join the club following the conclusion of the Football at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament, 2024 Paris Olympics. However, she was placed on the Season Ending Injury list in August after suffering a ruptured quadriceps tendon in her right leg while on international duty. Orlando filed a grievance with FIFA against the Football Association of Zambia for "failing to provide a reasonable standard of care for player health and safety" after Chanda was asked to continue training and playing during Zambia's opening match of the Olympics while injured. After recovering from her injury, Chanda made her NWSL debut on 19 April 2025, coming on in a 1–0 loss to the Washington Spirit as a second-half substitute.

International career

Chanda represented Zambia women's national football team, Zambia at the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations and 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations. Chanda was the top goalscorer with eight goals at the 2020 CAF Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the Olympic-qualifying tournament for Africa and helped Zambia qualify for their first Olympics. Chanda was one of three players shortlisted for African Women's Footballer of the Year in 2022. On the eve of Zambia's FIFA Women's World Cup debut in July 2023, Chanda was ruled out of the tournament with illness. On 3 July 2024, Chanda was called up to the Zambia squad for the Football at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's tournament, 2024 Summer Olympics.

Personal life

Chanda notes American striker Alex Morgan as a football idol.

Career statistics

''Scores and results list Zambia's goal tally first''

Honours

BIIK Kazygurt * Kazakhstani women's football championship, Kazakhstani Championship: 2022 Orlando Pride * NWSL Shield: 2024 National Women's Soccer League season, 2024 * NWSL Championship: 2024 National Women's Soccer League season, 2024 Zambia * Women's Africa Cup of Nations third place: 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, 2022 Individual * Football Association of Zambia Women's Player of the Year: 2021 * FAZ Women's Super Division golden boot: 2021 * Women's Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament: 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations#Awards, 2022 * International Federation of Football History & Statistics, IFFHS CAF Women's Team of The Year: 2022

References

External links

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Grace Chanda
at International Olympic Committee
Grace Chanda
at Goal (website), GOAL {{DEFAULTSORT:Chanda, Grace 1997 births Living people Zambian women's footballers 21st-century Zambian sportswomen Women's association football midfielders ZESCO United F.C. players Madrid CFF players Zambia women's international footballers Footballers at the 2020 Summer Olympics Olympic footballers for Zambia Zambian expatriate women's footballers Zambian expatriate sportspeople in Spain Expatriate women's footballers in Spain Orlando Pride players Zambian expatriate sportspeople in the United States Expatriate women's soccer players in the United States Women's association football forwards Footballers at the 2024 Summer Olympics National Women's Soccer League players 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations players 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations players