NOUHAILA BENZINA made her World Cup debut at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The football star made history at the competition during Morocco's game against South Korea.
Who is Nouhaila Benzina?
Nouhaila Benzina is a Moroccan football player.
She was born on May 11, 1998 in Kenitra.
Benzina plays as a defender.
Who has Nouhaila Benzina played for?
Benzina has spent her professional career playing for Morocco's ASFAR (Association's Sports of Forces Armed Royal) team.
Read More on Women’s World Cup
Here’s what happened to footie star Linda Caicedo at the Women’s World Cup
Laura Woods dazzles & puts on leggy display during Women’s World Cup coverage
She has also represented Morocco at under-20 and senior levels.
In 2023 Benzina was named as part of Morocco's FIFA Women's World Cup squad.
The 2023 edition of the the tournament marks the first time Morocco has taken part.
They are also the first team from MENA, the group of countries situated in and around the Middle East and North Africa, to play in the tournament.
Most read in Football
Chelsea want to HIJACK Liverpool's Mbappe move, Bayern to make new Kane bid
Utd AGREE £72m Hojlund deal, £21.5m Amrabat 'close,' Maguire updates
Furious Onana berates Maguire after Man Utd defender's error in loss to Dortmund
Chelsea 'to try and HIJACK Liverpool's Mbappe move with player-plus-cash deal'
Benzina was an unused substitute in the team's first game against Germany but was called up during their second clash, against South Korea.
Is Nouhaila Benzina the first footballer to wear a hijab at a World Cup?
In July 2023, Benzina became the first football player to play at a World Cup – or any senior women's football tournament – wearing a hijab.
She wore her hijab during Morocco's July 30 match against South Korea at the Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Morocco finished the game, which took place at Adelaide's Hindmarsh Stadium, victorious with a 1-0 win.
In the past, FIFA banned the wearing of hijabs during games due to health and safety reasons.
The reasons included possible choking, with the ban forbidding "equipment that is dangerous to himself or another player".
That ban was lifted in 2014.
The under-17 Women’s World Cup in Jordan took place two years after the ban was lifted and marked the first time Muslim players wore headscarves during an international FIFA event.
Benzina has not publicly addressed her history-making turn on the pitch but Morocco's captain Ghizlane Chebbak has discussed her team being at their first ever World Cup.
She told press as the tournament: "We are honoured to be the first Arab country to take part in the Women's World Cup 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."
Ahead of Morocco's match against South Korea, Benzina did reference the upcoming game on her social media.
Read More on The Sun
My Ryanair booking hack will save you loads on cabin bags… never pay full price
11 freebies & discounts worth £6,788 you can get on Universal Credit
On Instagram, she posted a screenshot of a tweet stating that Benzina is the only player – out of 736 – at the Women's World Cup to wear a hijab.
She captioned the screenshot with a black love heart.
Source: Read Full Article
