2 years ago
Zambia's preparations for the Women Africa Cup of Nations(WAFCON) hit a snag when their talismanic forward and captain Barbara Banda was excluded from the squad by the governing body for African football, CAF. It has now emerged that Banda was omitted after she returned high testosterone levels, plus she had a 'manly body.'
Givemesport reports on the shocking revelations that have cost the tournament one of the most prolific strikers in the continent.
The 22-year-old had been removed under the guise of 'medical reasons', which were not expounded further. She was expected to lead her country to its fourth appearance at the WAFCON games. This year's edition held in Morocco also serves as a qualification path to the Women's World Cup, which will be held next year.
The top four teams will automatically book their spot, while two other teams will proceed to a repechage tournament.
Banda shot to the limelight during the Tokyo Olympics Games when she became the first person to score back-to-back hattricks in the Games' history. The former EDF Logrono forward has been linked with a move to Real Madrid. She currently plies her trade in the Chinese Women's Super League with Shanghai Shengli.
Similar accusations had rocked Super Falcons star Francisca Ordega but the reports were quickly rubbished. Ordega started on the bench as the defending champions fell to Banyana Banyana of South Africa on Monday night.
Banyana Banyana head coach Desiree Ellis explains how they defeated Nigeria Sports Brief has also reported that Desiree Ellis, who is the head coach of the South African women's national team, has explained that her wards prevented the Super Falcons of Nigeria from playing their free-flowing football. Many Nigerian football lovers were disappointed on Monday night, 4 July, when the Super Falcons started their campaign at the 2022 African Women Nations Cup with a 2-1 defeat to South Africa. Before the game, NFF president Amaju Pinnick visited the camp of the Super Falcons, where he urged the Nigerian players to make sure that they soar ahead of their opponents.
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