Zambia reached a huge milestone on Wednesday by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time in history. The Copper Queens booked their place at the tournament next year after reaching the semi-finals of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).Team captain Barbra Banda has not been able to play her part on the pitch but has still been backing her nation throughout this historic journey."I can't be more proud of what this team has achieved, you did, we did it," Banda wrote in an emotional congratulatory Twitter post. "We go to the World Cup. The dream is now a reality. I am with you all the way."

The respect between the Zambia national team and their captain is very much mutual.

Following their win over Senegal in the WAFCON quarter-final, the official Copper Queens Twitter account posted a video of the players celebrating after the match and dedicated the win to their captain.

"This was for skipper @BarbraBanda11. We can't wait to have you back," the caption read.

Why is Barbra Banda not competing at WAFCON?

Banda has been unable to represent Zambia at WAFCON 2022 and has been forced to celebrate her country's historic achievement from home.

The 22-year-old was banned from competing after failing gender eligibility tests earlier this month.

Banda, who rose into the spotlight during the 2020 Olympics, reportedly returned blood tests with excessively high levels of testosterone and therefore did not meet the criteria of gender verification set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

According to Amanda Kamanga, the president of Zambia's FA, CAF made the decision to ban the forward from competing at the tournament.

Banda
RIFU, MIYAGI, JAPAN - JULY 24: Babra Banda #11 of Team Zambia makes their way towards the pitch prior to the Women's First Round Group F match between China and Zambia on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Miyagi Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Rifu, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

RIFU, MIYAGI, JAPAN - JULY 24: Babra Banda #11 of Team Zambia makes their way towards the pitch prior to the Women's First Round Group F match between China and Zambia on day one of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Miyagi Stadium on July 24, 2021 in Rifu, Miyagi, Japan. (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

"Everybody at home [in Zambia] has been made to believe that FAZ did nothing and decided on their own to exclude the player," Kamanga told BBC Sport Africa.

"We the federations are compelled to undertake the tests and then we pass on the information to CAF, and CAF, equally, test the players if needs be in the tournament.

"So it will be unfair to turn around and say CAF is not part and parcel of whatever has transpired."

Banda was taking medication to reduce her levels of testosterone and was initially named in the Zambia squad for AFCON. Despite this, she was still unable to meet regulations and was suspended from competing, according to BBC Sport Africa.

FIFA is reportedly preparing a verdict on Banda's current situation and has issues with CAF’s gender verification document. FIFA could be in a position to overturn the decision to suspend Banda, as well as sanction the CAF official who permitted the use of the document.

At the 2020 Olympics, Banda became the first female footballer to score back-to-back hat-tricks at the Games as Zambia made their tournament debut.

Away from the international stage, the 22-year-old represents Chinese club Shanghai Shengli. During her debut season in the Chinese Women's Super League, she finished as the division's top scorer with 18 goals in 13 matches.