Africa Cup of Nations: Barbra Banda banned due to 'gender eligibility' issues

Zambia captain Barbra Banda will not be permitted to take part in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after failing gender eligibility tests. 

The forward starred at last year’s Olympic Games, scoring consecutive hat-tricks in Zambia’s opening two games.  

Yet, the 22-year-old has failed to meet the gender criteria required by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF). 

According to Mundo Deportivo, Spain’s daily sports newspaper, blood tests found that Banda had an excessively high level of testosterone and a “manly body.” 

Amanda Kamanga, the president of Zambia’s FA (Faz), told BBC Sport Africa: “All the players had to undergo gender verification, a Caf requirement, and unfortunately she did not meet the criteria set by Caf.” 

While Caf has stressed that Banda’s exclusion did not come from them, Kamanaga believes the governing body is directly responsible. 

“Everybody at home [in Zambia] has been made to believe that Faz did nothing and decided on their own to exclude the player,” Kamanga said.

“We the federations are compelled to undertake the tests and then we pass on the information to Caf, and Caf, equally, test the players if needs be in the tournament.

“So it will be unfair to turn around and say Caf is not part and parcel of whatever has transpired.”

Banda was named in Zambia’s squad for WAFCON, having taken medication to reduce her levels of testosterone. 

However, according to the BBC, she has still not met the regulations and has thus been suspended from competing. 

Three other members of the Zambia squad have allegedly been affected by gender eligibility as well, but have chosen not to feature for their country. 

Bandra plays as a forward for Chinese club Shanghai Shengli and finished her first