Moroccan defender, Nouhaila Benzina, has made history as the player to wear a hijab at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nouhaila Benzina wore the headscarf as she stepped onto the field against South Korea in Morocco’s second World Cup match.
According to the UK Guardian, the 25-year-old engraved her name in the history books when she wore the Islamic headscarf during her first appearance in her side’s 1-0 win over South Korea at the ongoing tournament in Australia and New Zealand on Sunday.
A co-founder of the Muslim Women in Sports Network, Assmaah Hella said “I have no doubt that more and more women and Muslim girls will look at Benzina and just really be inspired — not just the players, but I think decision-makers, coaches, other sports as well,”
A FIFA ban on playing in religious head coverings in its sanctioned games for “health and safety reasons” was overturned in 2014 after advocacy from activists, athletes and government and soccer officials.
Benzina plays professional club soccer for the Association’s Sports of Forces Armed Royal — the eight-time defending champion in Morocco’s top women’s league.
She did not play in Morocco’s opening 6-0 loss to Germany in Melbourne and had to wait six days to finally get her start in the Group H game in Adelaide.
