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Rabat – In a first for women’s football, Moroccan football player Nouhaila Benzina is set to become the first hijabi player at the upcoming 2023 Women’s World Cup, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand between July 20 and August 20.
FIFA announced on Twitter that Benzina will be breaking barriers at the global stage, marking a big milestone for diversity in the sport as she proudly represents her country while wearing a hijab.
“Nouhaila Benzina will make history at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand 2023. The Moroccan star will be the first player to compete in the tournament while wearing a hijab,” FIFA tweeted.
The 25-year-old footballer, who also plays for the Moroccan Royal Army Football Club (FAR), joined the national team in 2018 thanks to her skills and dedication.
Prior to that, the Moroccan defender showcased her talent while playing for Morocco’s U-20 team in 2017.
As the highly anticipated tournament approaches, Benzina and her teammates have arrived in Australia, ready for their first-ever participation in the Women’s World Cup.
Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses booked their first-ever ticket to the global tournament after defeating Botswana during the quarter-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in 2022.
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The team produced a strong performance during the WAFCON, reaching the tournament’s final for the first time.
Amid the team’s historic achievement, Head Coach Reynald Pedros expressed his hope for the Atlas Lionesses, the MENA region’s only representatives at the World Cup, to make it out of the group phase.
The tournament’s draw placed Morocco in Group H, alongside Colombia, South Korea, and Germany.
“We know that we are the underdogs of this group but that does not prevent us from making it difficult for all these nations,” Pedros said last month after announcing Morocco’s squad list for the World Cup.
