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.
Nouhaila Benzina of Morocco made history during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 match between Korea and MoroccoEPA/MATT TURNER
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.
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.
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.
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.