Barbra Banda Nominated for BBC Football Award

Barbra Banda, a Zambian footballer, has been nominated for the BBC Women's Footballer of the Year award, sparking controversy due to her previous exclusion from the 2022 Women's African Cup of Nations over high testosterone levels. The Women's Rights Network (WRN) criticized the nomination, arguing it undermines the credibility of women's sports and raises safety concerns for female athletes. Banda, who was registered female at birth and has a background in professional boxing, did not fail a gender test but was omitted from the tournament as a precaution due to team management's awareness of her testosterone levels. Despite the controversy, Banda has had a successful career, becoming the second-most expensive female player and the highest-scoring African in Olympic history. Competing admirers like Emma Hayes and her current coach Seb Hines acknowledge her impressive performance, which includes a hat-trick against Australia at the Paris Olympics. The debate continues around the intersection of gender eligibility and fairness in women's sports.