It took FIFA an additional six months to officially confirm whether their star player could join her teammates on their remarkable journey. Meet Barbra Banda, Africa’s equivalent to Katie Taylor, who had to quit amateur boxing due to the lack of opponents. Banda, a graduate from the dusty streets of Lusaka, is a dual star, having scored an incredible 22 international goals in just 10 appearances at the age of 23. She holds the record for being the only woman to achieve back-to-back hat-tricks at the Olympics.
Similar to Taylor’s early struggles, Banda faced denial when she was not allowed to participate in the African Cup of Nations last year due to her natural testosterone levels exceeding the Confederation of African Football’s limits. Zambia and CAF placed blame on each other for her exclusion in the tournament. This situation mirrors the experiences of South African middle-distance star Caster Semenya, as well as Namibian 400m duo Christine Mboma and Beatrice Masilingi.
While offered hormone suppression treatment to reduce her testosterone levels, Banda, along with others, declined. The Semenya case highlights the immense personal trauma involved, leading Human Rights Watch to advocate for her. Fortunately, FIFA made a sensible decision last January, allowing Banda to compete and ending the uncertainty surrounding her eligibility. However, some may exploit this as another example of a morality tale gone wrong.
FIFA’s chief women’s football officer, Sarai Bareman, acknowledges the complexity of the issue, which incorporates gender and race. FIFA aims to consider all perspectives, including research, evidence, individual situations, and human rights, before making decisions that will impact many individuals.
Ironically, Banda did not participate in last year’s AFCON quarter-final penalty shoot-out win against Senegal. However, her exclusion did not hinder Zambia’s success, as they became one of the first qualifiers for the 2023 finals and the first landlocked African nation to achieve this feat.
The Copper Queens have a rich history in women’s football, dating back to their involvement in the sport since 1982. They recently won the Council of South African Football Associations championship, with Banda scoring the game-winning goal against South Africa. The team boasts talented players with electrifying pace, such as Grace Chanda, Xiomara Mapepa, Evarine Katongo, and Racheal Nachula. Racheal Kundananji, currently second on the scorer’s charts in the Spanish league, is also worth watching. However, all eyes will be on Banda as she continues to make waves in the sport.
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