CAF president Patrice Motsepe expressed ignorance about Barbara Banda’s disqualification as CAF officials say they don’t have answers to those questions because they don’t know.
Meanwhile, FIFA also says they haven’t received any case of gender eligibility verification from CAF or WAFCON medical team.
“It is worth noting that since these regulations have been put in place in 2011, no case was brought to FIFA’s attention that would have triggered a procedure to verify eligibility as outlined in these regulations.” responds FIFA.
The Zambian Football Association however, reported that Barbara Banda was disqualified by CAF due to “medical reasons” despite the Olympics record breaker being selected for the squad that travelled to Morocco.
Multiple fans have taken to social media demanding for Justice and fairness towards Barbara and few other players.
In the midst of lackluster results courtesy of the Chipolopolo, the copper queens performances have been a bedrock of joy for most soccer fanatics in Zambia.
The Copper queens exploits at the Tokyo Olympics didn’t entirely go according to plan but there is no doubt that the name Barbra Banda was engraved in the history books as she delivered a humdinger performance.
In the end, the Dutch beat the copper queens 10-3 while China drew with the girls 4-4 before Brazil narrowly won 1-0 but there was hope that something could be built on.
Obviously their performance cannot match the men’s team at the Seoul Olympics back in 1988 when Great Kalu and company beat Italy and Guatemala by 4 goals to nil each, drew 2-all against Iraq before West Germany ended the party for Zambians as they were hammered 4-0, a case of do unto others as you want them to do unto you.
But their compaign was good enough to earn the team honours from Zambia’s first President Kenneth Kaunda during an investiture ceremony.
However, With Olympic record breaker Barbra Banda now ruled out of the tournament due medical reasons, the first African woman to score two hatricks in a single Olympics tournament , whose presence on the field of play would most certainly ignite fear in the opposition’s defense, the copper queens will have to face Cameroon without her.
There is no doubt that the ladies will be eager to start off their WAFCON campaign on a good note against Cameroon despite missing some of their key players which include SD Eibar Striker Racheal Kundananji, Nachula , to mention a few.
Like they say, in football your teammates misfortunes could be a perfect opportunity for you as a player to step up. This could be a chance for young and other members of the team like Kazakhstan based striker Grace Chanda who has always been under the shadow of Barbara Banda to make a strong impression at the biggest football stage on the continent.
The last time the copper queens played against the indomitable lionesses of Cameroon , they were victorious and booked a place at the Tokyo Olympics a thing which the Cameroonians will look to revenge tonight as they were denied qualification to the Multi sports global tournament.
Meanwhile, Zambian coach Bruce Mwape told the press yesterday that his team has what it takes to beat Cameroon especially that they have don it before in the past.
Mwape is confident that the players available for selection will deliver and kick off Zambia’s WAFCON campaign on a positive note.
The world football governing board says it’s looking to engage human rights experts to review the gender verification regulations which is prohibiting some female footballers from playing with fellow women especially those found with high levels of testosterone as they are seen to have an advantage against their teammates.
Female athletes are increasingly forced to pass gender verification tests a thing which Germany Medical ethicist Claudia Wiesemann described as “ridiculous,” and can have humiliating consequences.
Claudia Wiesemann in 2015 told DW Tv : Well, at first it was, in the 50s and 60s. Back then, it was a purely phyiscal test. Later, it was examined whether the athletes had two X chromosomes. Men usually have an X and a Y chromosome.
Then came more thorough physical tests, which included an exam of the organs in the abdomen. Today, hormone levels are tested in the blood – so how much testosterone a woman has in her blood.
Is it complicated to measure that? Not really. It’s pretty easy to examine testosterone levels. What’s harder is interpreting the results.
She further argued that, there’s no such thing as definite gender verification. Women can have very high levels of testosterone, but their bodies can be completely insensitive to the effects. Some people are more sensitive to testosterone, others less. Women can even have a Y chromosome and still have a female physique. Men and women are merely two extremes of a continuum, and, between these extremes, many different types are possible.
Meanwhile responding to a press query by Zambian journalist Calvin Kaumba Chikenge, FIFA says it is reviewing its gender eligibility regulations.
“FIFA is currently reviewing its gender eligibility regulations in consultation with human rights experts. It is worth noting that since these regulations have been put in place in 2011, no case was brought to FIFA’s attention that would have triggered a procedure to verify eligibility as outlined in these regulations.
“Should FIFA be asked to verify the eligibility of a player before the new regulations will be in place, any such case will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, taking into account FIFA’s clear commitment to respect for human rights.”
In 2015,the German Women’s National Soccer Team had to supply medical confirmation that all players were indeed women in order to be allowed to play in the Women’s World Cup in Canada this summer and similarly, African national associations were asked to do the same at the Womens’ Africa cup of nations being hosted in Morocco.
After earlier announcing the banning of football players and fans from engaging in sex outside marriage during the 2022 FIFA World Cup , Qatar authorities have further announced Public drinking is illegal in their country and People who break the law risk spending seven years in prison.
According DW Africa, although alcohol is legal in Qatar, it is strictly forbidden to consume it in public and it is also a crime to be drunk in public.
Qatar will become the first Middle East country to host the FIFA World Cup and the Muslim dominated country is ensuring visitors understand their laws.
The country also announced that LGBTQ campaigns during the World Cup will not be tolerated as homosexuality is against their religious beliefs and remains illegal.
Meanwhile, a study in England has also revealed that due to the strict control of the selling alcohol in Qatar, the commodity is very expensive and very few can afford it.
“The average price of a beer in Qatar was just shy of £10, making it one of the most expensive places in the world to buy a pint.
“That figure shouldn’t come as too much of a shock, as Qatar has a majority muslim population – with the sale of alcohol being tightly controlled. Along similar lines, the average price of a beer in the UAE and Oman is also incredibly high, at £9.94 and £7.97 respectively.”
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is set to kick off on November 21 to December 18th in Qatar.
Fifa have warned a hardline approach will be taken to ban casual sex at this winter’s tournament in the strict Arab country.
A UK-based police source told the Daily Star: “Sex is very much off the menu, unless you are coming as a husband and wife team.
“There definitely will be no one-night stands at this tournament.
“There will be no partying at all really.
“Everyone needs to keep their heads about them, unless they want to risk being stuck in prison.
“There is essentially a sex ban in place at this year’s World Cup for the first time ever. Fans need to be prepared.”
Sex outside of marriage carries a prison sentence of up to seven years in the Middle Eastern country.
Traveling supporters also need to be aware that – although alcohol is not illegal in Qatar – there is zero tolerance for drinking in public and being drunk in public is a crime.
Qatar authorities also announced that no LGBTQ campaigns will be tolerated as homosexuality remains illegal in their country.
The confederations of African football have announced the date for the 2022 CAF awards that will return after two years.
The awards will be held on the 21st July 2022 ahead of the Womens Africa cup of nations set to start next month.
However, we look at a potential nominee and winner of the CAF womens player of the year award.
Barbara Banda is Zambia womens national team captain who guided her side to their first ever qualification to the Olympics as they were the only African team at the last edition of the global multi sports event.
Barbara scored three goals in one game to become Africa’s first female to score a hatrick at the Olympic games in history.
She also equaled an Olympic record of the most hatricks scored in one competition , a feat that has no African female player has ever achieved.
BELOW ARE SOME OF THE RECORDS BROKEN BY BARBARA BANDA ?
📊 Barbra Banda equalled the record for the most goals scored at a single Olympics tournament [6]
📊 Barbra Banda also equalled the record for the most hatricks scored in Olympics history [2]
📊Barbara Banda become Africa’s all time female top scorer at the Olympics with 6 goals.
DO YOU THINK SHE DESERVES THE CAF FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD?
Senegalese and Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is reportedly set to earn £250,000 weekly upon the completion of his move to Bayern Munich. The Senegal international has agreed terms with the Bavarians ahead of a transfer worth £35m according to various reports in Europe.
A report by the Mirror suggests that the 30-year-old could become one of the highest earners in the Bundesliga, which will see him more than double his current wage.
The former Southampton man currently earns around £100,000 weekly at Liverpool, which is a far cry from what his talents deserve.
He was reportedly seeking a bumper rise to £400,000 during contract negotiations but the club seemingly refused to meet his demands.
Mane has just one year left on his deal with the Reds and the club elected to sell him this summer rather than lose him on a free transfer next year.
Contract negotiations stalled between the two parties, leading to speculation that he could be on his way out of Anfield after six years at the club.
He has agreed a deal with Bayern Munich and a deal with the German champions will soon be announced, pending the completion of medicals.
Sadio Mane joined Liverpool from Southampton for a fee of £34m, making him the most expensive African player in history at that point.
BELOW IS A LIST OF THE HIGHEST PAID AFRICAN FOOTBALLERS
Malian midfielder Yves Bissouma who has been Brighton and Hove Albion’s main man in the midfield has officially left the club to join Tottenham Hotspurs.
His departure was long over due, a thing which triggered Graham Potter to look for a new midfielder in preparation for his departure.
Last year , Potter told Albion Tv that Yves’s future at the club was uncertain therefore there was need to sign a midfielder.
Brighton then went on the market and scouted Zambian midfielder Enock Mwepu from Redbull Salzburg where he had an impressive campaign winning the Austrian league twice in a row and participating in the UEFA Champions League.
While at Salzburg the computer as he is fondly known 18 goals and provided 20 assists in 142 appearances across all competitions.
Mwepu who was signed by Brighton as a long term replacement for Bissouma, quickly started settling well in the premier league having scored 2 goals and provided 4 assists in just 18 appearances for Brighton.
Graham potter described Mwepu debut season as promising and assured fans that he will even be better next season.
“I think we’ve got the kind of midfielder we wanted. He is a box to box player , a bit similar with Biss (Bissouma) and he can defender and attack too. He will be even better for us next season especially that he is just adapting this season.”
– Graham potter-
However, Mwepu’s season was disturbed by a series of injuries which led Graham Potter recall Ecuador midfielder Moises caicedo from Belgium side K. Beerschot V.A were he was sent on loan.
With Bissouma’s departure now confirmed, Mwepu has a huge task ahead of him to fill his boots and expectations from fans and the technical bench are high.
Zambia national team new defender Frankie Musonda has been nicknamed “REMOTE CONTROL” by fans after a solid performance in his debut competitive match for the Chipolopolo boys during the 2023 Ivory Coast Africa cup of nations qualifiers.
The Scotland based Raith Rovers fc defender who was born in Britain to a Zambian father and British mother was scouted by popular Zambian website, Chipolopolo diehards who brought him to the attention of the fans and the football association of Zambia who later invited him to feature for the 2012 African champions.
After making his debut in two friendly matches, the defender described the experience as a dream come true to play for his father’s country which he has always wanted.
Frankie put up a solid performance in the two friendly matches against Benin and the Congo Brazzaville in which he even scored his first goal for Zambia.
He went on to become a fans favorite and immediately cementing a place in coach Aljosa Asanovic’s Chipolopolo starting eleven as a center back.
On Wednesday, he put up an impressive performance against Comoros in a match that Zambia won by two goal to one to go second in group H .
Frankie was the darling of the crowd at the heroes national stadium in Lusaka due to his calmness on the ball and continuous issuance of instructions to his teammates as he organized the defense in what was a very crucial match for Zambia which revived their chances of qualifying to the next edition of the AFCON after losing their first match to the elephants of Ivory Coast.
He also completed the most number of passes and made seven clearances to be most Zambian fans’ man of the match , according yo various social media polls.
Because of that, fans cheered him whenever he was in possession of the ball and chanted “ remote control” while others shouted “commander frankie” , which has now gone viral on various social media platforms.
Meanwhile in interview, Frankie reviewed how happy he was to play in front of over 50,000 home fans and how much of a dream come true that was.
“It was exciting and motivating to play in front of the home fans. They kept supporting us even when we were down by a goal. I was very happy and I must say it is a dream come true for me.”
~FRANKIE MUSONDA~
It remains to be seen how far the “REMOTE CONTROL” nickname will go in popularity as Zambians are on record giving names to their star players one of which is Enock Mwepu who was named ‘computer’ and now popularly known by that even at his club in England and across Europe.
Gabon and Red Star Belgrade Midfielder Geulor Kanga was already cleared last year by CAF to play for his country with Congo DR FA’s claims that he was born four years after his mother had died, and that his name is Kiaku-Kiaku Kianga born in Kinshasa.
Kanga is officially 30 years old and was born in Oyem, Gabon, on September 1, 1990 but after the 2021 AFCON qualifiers the Congolese FA filed a complaint yo CAF over his eligibility to play in the qualifiers.
CAF ruled that Kanga was eligible to play for Gabon and he went on to feature for the panthers at AFCON in Cameroon despite FECOFA insisting they were going to appeal that judgement in the hope that Gabon are disqualified from playing the Cameroon Africa Cup of Nations.
However, the evidence which FECOFA offered was not accepted by the African football governing body.
CAF further said: “The proof offered by FECOFA was not convincing nor sufficient to establish [identify fraud].”
African Football Greats 