Morocco’s Nouhaila Benzina made history on Sunday when she became the first ever player to wear a hijab in a World Cup match.
The 25-year old defender helped secure her team’s first ever Women’s World Cup victory in their second group stage match in Adelaide, beating South Korea 1-0.
Their first World Cup goal was made in the sixth minute by 30-year old striker Ibtissam Jraïdi.
Muslim Women in Sports Network co-founder, Assmaah Helal told reporters that “Girls will look at Benzina [and think] ‘that could be me’.”
“Also the policymakers, the decision-makers, the administrators will say, ‘we need to do more in our country to create these accepting and open and inclusive spaces for women and girls to participate in the game,’” she said.
FIFA authorised the wearing of head coverings for religious reasons in 2014, right before the Under-17 Women’s World Cup, held in Jordan. Previously, it had banned the hijab on health and safety grounds.
Morocco’s team manager, Reynald Pedros, selected Benzina for the starting lineup in Sunday’s Group H game. Benzina was an unused substitute for the team’s first game against Germany last Monday, which they lost 6-0.
With that opening game, the team became the first Arab or North African nation to play on the world stage — a feat which their captain, Ghizlane Chebbak, described as an honour.
“We feel that we have to shoulder a big responsibility to give a good image, to shop the achievements the Moroccan team has made,” she said.
Morocco’s next match will be against Colombia on Thursday. If they win, they will qualify for the knockout stage (last 16) — a history first for the team.