Lebanon women's national under-20 football team explained
Lebanon under-20 |
Badge Size: | 150 |
Fifa Trigramme: | LBN |
Nickname: | Arabic: صبايا الأرز (The Lady Cedars) |
Association: | Lebanon Football Association (Arabic: الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم) |
Sub-Confederation: | WAFF (West Asia) |
Confederation: | AFC (Asia) |
Coach: | Vacant |
Home Stadium: | Various |
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First Game: | 3–0 (Amman, Jordan; 5 November 2014) |
Largest Win: | 0–6 (Jounieh, Lebanon; 24 October 2018) |
Largest Loss: | 9–0 (Hanoi, Vietnam; 26 April 2019) |
Type: | women |
Regional Name: | WAFF U-18 Girls Championship |
Regional Cup Apps: | 3 |
Regional Cup First: | 2018 |
Regional Cup Best: | Champions (2019, 2022) |
The Lebanon women's national under-20 football team (Arabic: منتخب لبنان لكرة القدم تحت 20 سنة للسيدات), colloquially known as "the Lady Cedars" (Arabic: صبايا الأرز|links=no),[1] [2] represents Lebanon in international women's youth football. The team is controlled by the Lebanon Football Association (LFA), the governing body for football in Lebanon. The team also serves as the women's national under-19 and women's national under-18 football team of Lebanon.
While the team has never participated in either the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup or the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup, they have won two WAFF U-18 Girls Championship titles, in 2019 and 2022, and were runners-up in 2018.
History
Early history (2014–2019)
The national team played their first competitive matches at the qualifiers for the 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship in November 2014.[3] Drawn with Jordan, Uzbekistan and India, Lebanon lost all three games,[4] [5] finishing last in their qualifying group. Following funding and initiatives by the Lebanese Football Association towards women's football,[6] and more specifically youth women's football, the women's national youth teams started to see success, especially in Western Asia.[7] As of 2020, there were separate club leagues for the U15s, U17s, U19s and seniors.[8]
In 2018 Lebanon hosted the inaugural WAFF U-18 Women's Championship between August and September, in preparation for the 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship qualification the following October. After defeating Palestine 3–0 in the opening game, Lebanon lost 2–1 to Jordan in the effective final of the WAFF Championship and finished runners-up.[9] In October 2018, Lebanon hosted their group in the first round of Asian qualifiers, in which they were drawn with Australia, Mongolia and Hong Kong; despite losing 2–0 to Australia, Lebanon won against the other two teams (thanks to four goals by Yara Bou Rada against Hong Kong and three goals by Samira Awad) and qualified to the second round.[10] [11] They were the only Arab country to do so.
During this period, most of the U19s players were also called up to the senior team. In January 2019, 17 of the 23 players called up to the 2019 WAFF Women's Championship in Bahrain came from the U19 team, bringing the average age of the squad to 18.9 years. Lebanon eventually finished third. The players returned in April 2019 to compete in the second round of Asian U-19 qualifiers. Needing a second-place finish in their group of four teams to reach the final tournament, Lebanon finished last after losing against South Korea, Vietnam and Iran.[12]
West Asian success (2019–present)
The team's first success came in 2019, in the second edition of the WAFF U-18 Championship in Bahrain. After winning all three games in the group stage, Lebanon advanced the semi-finals, where they defeated Palestine 4–2 to reach the final against hosts Bahrain. Lebanon won 3–0 and were crowned champions for the first time.[13] Three years later, in 2022, Lebanon won their second-consecutive WAFF Championship title on home soil after beating Syria 5–1 in the final.[14]
In March 2023, Lebanon took part in the first round of 2024 Asian Cup qualification,[15] which had been rebranded as an under-20 competition.[16] After defeating Bhutan (6–2) and Mongolia (7–0), Lebanon drew their decisive game against Jordan (0–0) and progressed to the second round for the second consecutive year.[17] [18] Less than three months later, in June, Lebanon were drawn with Australia, Vietnam and Iran.[19] Similarly to 2019, Lebanon lost all three matches and finished last in their group.[20]
Recent results and fixtures
2023
Players
The following players were called up for the second round of 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup qualification from 3 to 7 June 2023.[21]
Competitive record
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup
WAFF U-18 Girls Championship
WAFF U-18 Girls Championship record |
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Host nation(s)and year | Round | | | | | | | |
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2018[24] | Runners-up | 2nd of 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
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2019[25] | Champions | 1st of 7 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
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2022 | Champions | 1st of 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
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Total | Best: champions | 3/3 | 11 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 34 | 7 | |
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See also
Notes and References
- Web site: U18 Women's West Asian Football Championship. Abou Diab. Rami. 17 August 2018. FA Lebanon. 6 January 2020. 8 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230708040857/https://www.falebanon.com/u18-womens-west-asian-football-championship/. live.
- Web site: Saqr . Hassan . 24 October 2018 . ar:صبايا الأرز تهز شباك هونغ كونغ بسداسية نظيفة . The Lady Cedars score six past the Hong Kong goal . http://football-lebanon.com/details.php?id=5884 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20190112095045/http://football-lebanon.com/details.php?id=5884 . 12 January 2019 . 1 July 2019 . Football Lebanon . ar.
- Web site: Di Maggio . Roberto . 28 August 2018 . Asian Women U-19 Championship 2015 . 3 November 2022 . . 3 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103210745/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-wom-u19-2015.html . live .
- Web site: Qteishat . Yahya . 5 November 2014 . ar:منتخب الشابات يفوزعلى نظيره اللبناني بثلاثية ويتصدر . The women's youth national team beat its Lebanese counterpart 3–0 . 3 November 2022 . alghad.com . ar . 3 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103210741/https://alghad.com/%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D8%A8%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A/ . live .
- Web site: 7 November 2014 . ar:بالصور : منتخب الشابات يفوز على الهند في التصفيات الاسيوية . In pictures: Women's national football team beat India in Asian qualifiers . 3 November 2022 . almadenahnews.com . ar . 3 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103210747/https://www.almadenahnews.com/article/331709-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%8A%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B2-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D9%86%D8%AF-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9 . live .
- Web site: Wehbé . Johana . 27 June 2019 . Au Liban aussi les femmes ont leur place sur un terrain de foot . In Lebanon too, women have their place on a football field . 4 November 2022 . . fr . 5 September 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210905153256/https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1176505/au-liban-aussi-les-femmes-ont-leur-place-sur-un-terrain-de-foot.html . live .
- Web site: 5 March 2020 . New horizons for women's football in Lebanon . 4 November 2022 . . 8 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221108045949/https://www.fifa.com/news/new-horizons-for-women-s-football-in-lebanon . live .
- Web site: 4 March 2020 . Women's National Team head coach Wael Gharzeddine: the best is yet to come . 4 November 2022 . FA Lebanon . 4 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221104101355/https://www.falebanon.com/17751/ . live .
- Web site: 2 September 2018 . Jordan take West Asian crown on road to qualifiers . 6 January 2020 . . 20 December 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221220140350/https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_womens_asian_cup/news/jordan_take_west_asian_crown_on_road_to_qualifiers.html . live .
- 1056567181440413696. falebanon. HISTORIC WIN!! LEBANON qualify for the round 2 of the AFC U-19 Women’s Championship Qualifiers.. FA Lebanon. 28 October 2018. 3 November 2022.
- Web site: AFC U-19 Women's Championship 2019 Qualifiers Round 1 . 28 October 2023 . . 4 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221104025315/https://stats.the-afc.com/tournaments/234 . live .
- Web site: Iranidoost . Kamal . 30 April 2019 . Iran thrashes Lebanon at AFC U19 Women's C'ships . 3 November 2022 . . 3 November 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221103210746/https://en.mehrnews.com/news/144715/Iran-thrashes-Lebanon-at-AFC-U19-Women-s-C-ships . live .
- Web site: 6 January 2020 . Lebanon Crowned the WAFF U18 Girls Title . 13 January 2020 . . 11 July 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210711022738/http://www.the-waff.com/eng/post.php?id=1233 . live .
- Web site: 25 October 2022 . ar:المنتخب اللبناني يتوّج بلقب بطولة الشابات الثالثة . The Lebanon national team is crowned with the title of the third Girls Championship . 25 October 2022 . . ar . 25 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221025145447/http://www.the-waff.com/post.php?id=1923#.Y1f17UizRqI . dead .
- Web site: Keuchkerian . Karine . 4 November 2022 . Lebanon Is Set To Participate In The AFC Women’s Asian Cup For U17 & U20 . 8 June 2023 . The961 . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609005335/https://www.the961.com/lebanon-to-participate-in-the-afc-womens-asian-cup/ . live .
- Web site: 27 September 2019 . AFC Women’s Football Committee approves AFC Women’s Club Championship . AFC . 8 June 2023 . 8 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210508183325/https://www.the-afc.com/news/afcsection/afc-women-s-football-committee-approves-afc-women-s-club-championship . live .
- 1634990297892413443. afcasiancup. A goalless draw is enough to send Lebanon through to the #U20WAC Qualifiers Round 2 as Group D leaders!. Asian Football Confederation. 12 March 2023. 8 June 2023.
- Web site: AFC Womens U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers Round 1 . 28 October 2023 . . 3 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230603133146/https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_womens_asian_cup/fixtures__standings.html . live .
- Web site: 1 June 2023 . Iran, Lebanon land in Vietnam for U20 Women's Asian Cup qualifiers . 8 June 2023 . . 9 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230609005335/https://e.vnexpress.net/news/football/iran-lebanon-land-in-vietnam-for-u20-womens-asian-cup-qualifiers-4612701.html . live .
- Web site: 7 June 2023 . Qualifiers Group A: Australia beat Vietnam to finish top . 8 June 2023 . . 8 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230608012248/https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_u20_womens_asian_cup/news/qualifiers_group_a_australia_beat_vietnam_to_finish_top__1.html . live .
- Cs3iOITxHp-. thelfawomen. 31 May 2023. Lebanese Football Association. ar:المدربة جوانا حمزة تستدعي 21 لاعبة للدور الثاني من تصفيات كأس آسيا دون 20 عامًا – اوزبكستان 2024. Coach Joanna Hamze calls 21 players for the second round of the U-20 Asia Cup qualifiers – Uzbekistan 2024. ar.
- Web site: Di Maggio . Roberto . Schaal . Markus . 1 March 2023 . Women U-19/U-20 World Cup . 28 October 2023 . . 4 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230604013343/https://rsssf.org/tablesw/wc-wom-u19.html . live . Source note: To view Lebanon's tournament-specific details in the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, click on the specific year under "Palmares", then "Asia" or "AFC" under "Overview qualifying tournaments".
- Web site: Di Maggio . Roberto . 1 March 2023 . Asian Women U-19/U-20 Championship . 28 October 2023 . . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028215345/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/as-wom-u19.html . live . Source note: To view Lebanon's tournament-specific details in the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup, click on the specific year under "Palmares".
- Web site: WAFF U-18 Women Championship 2018 . 28 October 2023 . Goalzz.com . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028215346/https://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=16284 . live .
- Web site: WAFF U-18 Women Championship 2020 . 28 October 2023 . Goalzz.com . 28 October 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231028215345/https://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?c=18291 . live .