Morocco’s Benzina makes history with hijab at Women’s World Cup

Adelaide, The Gulf Observer: Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a hijab during a Women’s World Cup game when she sported the Muslim headscarf in Morocco’s match against South Korea on Sunday.

World governing body FIFA lifted its ban on players wearing the hijab nearly a decade ago, after previous concerns over player safety

The 25-year-old defender Benzina, who plays her club soccer in Morocco, ran out against South Korea in Adelaide to write her name in the history books.

Benzina shared social media posts in the lead-up to the World Cup about wearing a hijab, but has not spoken to the media in Australia and New Zealand about it.

She told broadcaster Al Jazeera recently it would be a proud moment.

“Lots of work was done over many years, and thank God it had a positive result,” she said. “We hope to play at a high level and honor Moroccans.”

Several other sports have lifted hijab bans in recent years including basketball, but it is still not allowed during official football matches in France.

The Moroccan women, coached by Frenchman Reynald Pedros, are at their first Women’s World Cup on the back of a historic runners-up finish at the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

They were thrashed 6-0 by Germany in their tournament opener, with Benzina remaining on the bench.

In Sunday’s game, Ibtissam Jraidi struck early to give them a stunning 1-0 victory.

Morocco, one of the lowest-ranked teams at the tournament at 72 in the world, were supposed underdogs against the 17th-ranked Koreans.

But they made by far the better start against shell-shocked opponents.

Colin Bell’s Korean side belatedly grew into the game towards the end of the first half, but like in their 2-0 opening defeat to Colombia, they lacked punch up front.

Many of the crowd were shouting for the Koreans and their team piled on the pressure in the second half as they attempted to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

Going into the nervy final 10 minutes, South Korea had had 10 attempts at goal — none of which were on target.

Morocco were grimly hanging on.

The Koreans had three players on two as they raced towards Morocco’s goal, only for Benzina to cynically clip an advancing Korean attacker and earn a yellow card.

Bell threw on attacker Casey Phair, the United States-born 16-year-old who is the youngest player ever to feature at a Women’s World Cup.

But Morocco held on for a gritty win that left South Korea facing an early exit from Group H.