Zambia captain Barbra Banda has failed the Confederation of African Football (CAF) “gender eligibility test” and as a result, she has been ruled out of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Reports from Morocco said the 22-year-old forward failed to meet the criteria required by global governing body Fifa, whose gender rules CAF is following at WAFCON.
“All the players had to undergo gender verification, a CAF requirement, and unfortunately she did not meet the criteria set by CAF,” Andrew Kamanga, the president of Zambia’s FA tweeted.
In the opening Group B game on Monday, Zambia managed a 0-0 draw against highly-rated Cameroon without their star striker Banda, who was withdrawn from the team at the weekend for having a very high testosterone level.
Banda plays for Chinese club Shanghai.
Controversy has erupted over the “policing of women’s bodies” with some pointing out that Banda played for Zambia’s women’s national football team at the Olympics last year.
Tunisia and Togo make up the group.
