Who is Barbra Banda? Meet BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year who was withdrawn from tournament due to ‘high testosterone’

Barbra Banda has been voted as BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.

The Zambian and Orlando Pride striker received the most votes from a panel of experts including coaches, players, administrators and journalists.

Beating off stiff competition from this year’s women’s Ballon d’or winner Aitana Bonmati and USA and Portland Thorns forward Sophia Smith. 

The 24-year-old’s victory has been criticised by some women’s rights groups and members of the football community because she was previously withdrawn from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 by team bosses over allegedly ‘high testosterone’ levels. 

However, a BBC spokesperson said: ‘As well as playing in the past two Olympic Games and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Barbra Banda plays for the Zambian national women’s team and in the USA for Orlando Pride making her fully eligible for the award which celebrates talent in women’s football. The five-player shortlist was decided by an expert panel made up of current and former professionals, coaches and journalists based on performances in the last twelve months, with the winner voted for by the public.’

Here is everything you need to know about the Zambian striker.

The Zambian and Orlando Pride striker won the award  Beating off stiff competition from women’s Ballon d’or winner Aitana Bonmati and USA forward Sophia Smith

Who is Barbra Banda?

Banda was born in the Zambian capital of Lusaka on March 20, 2000. She began playing football around the age of seven.

In 2018, she became the first Zambian woman to play her football in Europe when she joined Spanish side Logrono. 

She spent two years with the Spanish outfit scoring 16 goals in 28 games before she joined Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shengli.

In her debut season with the Chinese club, Banda took home the golden boot award. 

After three years, 13 appearances and 18 goals in China, Banda moved to US side Orland Pride this season for a staggering fee of $740,000 (£565,000).

The 24-year-old made an impression right away scoring 13 goals in the regular season and four more in the play-offs, which was a NWSL post-season record.

She also helped Orland Pride lift their first NWSL title, after scoring the winner vs Washington Spirit in the final.

In 2018, she became the first Zambian woman to play her football in Europe when she joined Spanish side Logrono

She helped Orland Pride lift their first NWSL title, after scoring the winner vs Washington Spirit in the final

Achievements

• BBC 2024 Women’s Footballer of the Year
• 2024 Ballon d’or nominee 
• Named in the 2024 NWSL’s Best XI 
• Africa’s all-time top scorer – male or female – in Olympic football history (10 goals)

Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 2022 exclusion

In 2022, despite being originally named to feature in the competition, Banda was left out of Zambia’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations squad.

It was later reported that Banda was withdrawn from the squad on ‘gender eligibility grounds’ after team bosses became aware her ‘testosterone levels’ were higher than those permitted by the Confederation of African Football.

Speaking at the time, the President of the Zambian FA said that she underwent a gender verification test, which did not meet the criteria for the competition.

An investigation completed by the Telegraph last year found that there was no suggestion that Banda’s testosterone levels were ‘anything but naturally occurring’.

Her agent agent Anton Maksimov said in a statement at the time of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations that Banda’s exclusion was not because she failed a gender test, instead she was removed based on an ‘evaluation of her physical conditions’.

‘As her official representative, I can state that Barbra has not been banned or suspended from participating in the current WAFCON by CAF, FAZ, FIFA, or any other governing body.

‘She has not undergone and consequently has not failed any “gender verification” or “gender eligibility tests” administered prior to the tournament. Barbra is also perfectly healthy and fit.

‘The decision not to currently feature Barbra at the tournament is FAZ’s internal decision based on their own evaluation of her physical conditions before coming to Morocco.

‘I reiterate that nothing, no existing regulations that we are aware of, prevents Barbra’s participation in the WAFCON 2022. Barbra has not failed any medical tests in this regard either.’

In 2022, despite being originally named to feature in the competition, Banda was left out of Zambia’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations squad

It was reported that Banda was withdrawn from the squad on gender eligibility grounds after team bosses became aware her testosterone levels were higher than those permitted by the Confederation of African Football

How much does Barbra Banda earn?

In March 2024, Banda became the second most expensive women’s football player of all time, just behind Racheal Kundananji’s $860,000 (£685,000) from Madrid CFF to Bay FC.

The 24-year-old Zambian striker signed for US side Orlando Pride for $740,000 (£565,000).

With a contract worth about $500,000 (£382,000) per year, Banda is one of the highest paid players in the NWSL.

When Orlando Pride announced her signing, the club’s sporting director Haley Carter described Banda as ‘a natural-born goal scorer and one of the most physically imposing forwards in the world’.