Morocco’s Benzina Becomes the First Senior-Level Women’s World Cup Player to Compete in Hijab

 

Adelaide, Australia (AP): Stepping onto the field against South Korea in Morocco’s second  Women’s World Cup  match, defender Nouhaila Benzina made history as the first player to wear a hijab while competing at a senior-level global tournament.

Morocco is the first Arab or North African nation to qualify for the Women’s World Cup.

The Atlas Lionesses were ranked No 72 in the world ahead of the tournament and were overwhelmed by two-time champion Germany, which is ranked second. But the Morocco team played with more freedom in an afternoon game against South Korea, and scored the opening goal.

“We are honored to be the first Arab country to take part in the Women’s World Cup,” Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak told reporters before tournament, “and we feel that we have to shoulder a big responsibility to give a good image, to show the achievements the Moroccan team has made.”

Cassidy Hettesheimer contributed to this report from Melbourne, Australia.

Hettesheimer is a student at the University of Georgia’s Carmical Sports Media Institute. – AP