For the first time in history, a player wore a hijab on the field at a FIFA Women’s World Cup.
On March 30, the South Korean women’s national soccer team played Morocco in their second match of Group H at the 안전카지노사이트 FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia/New Zealand 2023.
South Korea lost 0-1 to Morocco, leaving them with a slim chance of advancing to the round of 16. In the process, a new Women’s World Cup record was set.
The star of the show was Morocco’s No. 3 central defender, Nouhaila Benzina. She was the first player in World Cup history to wear a hijab.
Asma Helab, founder of the Islamic Women’s Sports Network, said of Benzina’s history-making performance, “I have no doubt that many Muslim girls will be inspired by her performance and that it will have an impact not only on players but also on coaches, decision-makers and other sports.”
FIFA has banned Muslim female players from wearing the hijab in the past, citing security concerns. However, following pressure from the players themselves and human rights activists, the rule was repealed in 2014.
However, no player has worn a hijab to a World Cup since. Benzina broke a tacit rule that had been in place for years.
Meanwhile, Nouhayla Benzina, born in 1998, is a 5-foot-7 defender who plays for ASFAR Rabat, a prestigious team in the Moroccan Women’s League. She did not play in the first match of Group H at the Women’s World Cup.