Nouhaila Benzina Explained
Nouhaila Benzina نهيلة بنزينة |
Birth Date: | 1998 5, df=y |
Birth Place: | Kenitra, Morocco[1] |
Height: | 1.73m |
Position: | Defender |
Currentclub: | ASFAR |
Clubnumber: | 5 |
Years1: | 2016– |
Clubs1: | ASFAR |
Nationalyears1: | 2017– |
Nationalteam1: | Morocco U20 |
Nationalcaps1: | 4 |
Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
Nationalyears2: | 2017– |
Nationalteam2: | Morocco |
Nationalcaps2: | 17 |
Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
Nouhaila Benzina (Arabic: نهيلة بنزينة;[2] born 11 May 1998) is a Moroccan professional footballer who plays as a defender for AS FAR and the Morocco women's national team.[3]
In July 2023, she made history as the first female player to ever wear an Islamic headscarf (a hijab) at the senior-level FIFA Women's World Cup.[4] [5] She is considered a role model for Muslim female footballers.[6]
Club career
Benzina has played for AS FAR in Morocco.[7]
International career
Benzina has capped for Morocco at under-20 and senior levels.[8] [9] [10]
Benzina was included in the Moroccan national team squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, which marked the debut World Cup appearance for both Benzina and the Moroccan national team.[11] Morocco's first Women's World Cup match was on 24 July against Germany, where Benzina made headlines around the world for being the first player on the team roster to wear a hijab at a World Cup match, though she did not play in the match.[12] [13] On 30 July she became the first player to play in a World Cup match wearing a hijab in her country's 1–0 win against South Korea.[14] French press, namely L'Équipe, made Islamophobic comments directed at her after the match.[15] [16] [17]
Honours
AS FAR
- Moroccan Women's Championship (7): 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- Moroccan Women Throne Cup (5): 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
- UNAF Women's Club Tournament (1): 2021
- CAF Women's Champions League (1): 2022; third place: 2021
Morocco
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Nouhaïla BenzinaStats and titles won21/22 . footballdatabase.eu . 11 May 1998 . 24 July 2023.
- News: المنتخب النسوي يخوض تجمعا إعداديا. ar. 15 February 2021. 18 June 2021.
- News: Benzina set to make history on World Cup day five. BBC Sport . 23 July 2023 .
- News: 2023-07-24 . Nouhaila Benzina makes history as first player to wear a hijab at the Women's World Cup . en-AU . ABC News . 2023-07-27.
- Web site: World Cup: How the hijab became tournament-ready – DW – 07/26/2023 . 2023-07-27 . dw.com . en.
- Web site: Farooq . Manish Pandey & Iqra . Women's World Cup 2023: 'Nouhaila Benzina is a role model to us' . BBC News . 30 July 2023 . 1 August 2023.
- Web site: Entrainements à Maâmoura de L'Equipe Nationale Féminine. Royal Moroccan Football Federation. 20 October 2020. fr. 18 June 2021.
- Web site: Coupe du Monde U20 2018 (Afrique) - Le NIGERIA prend une option, le GHANA obtient le nul au CAMEROUN. fr. 15 January 2018. Sebastien. Duret. 18 June 2021.
- Web site: SELECCIÓN NACIONAL INDIA vs SELECCION NACIONAL MARRUECOS. es. Rubén. Sebastián. Cotif Alcudia. 5 August 2018. 18 June 2021.
- News: Amicaux - Double succès du BRESIL et du GHANA, les USA battent les PAYS-BAS, la ZAMBIE victorieuse au CHILI. fr. Footofeminin.fr. 3 December 2020. Sébastien. Duret. 18 June 2021.
- Web site: 2023-07-23 . Morocco, Benzina set to make Women's World Cup history in a game against Germany . 2023-07-27 . AP News . en.
- Web site: Luckings . Steve . 2023-07-24 . Nouhaila Benzina to make history as first player to wear hijab at Women's World Cup . 2023-07-27 . The National . en.
- News: 2023-07-24 . Five quick hits — historic moment for Moroccan star and Marta aims to create stunning World Cup record . en-AU . ABC News . 2023-07-27.
- Web site: Benzina becomes first to wear hijab at World Cup . BBC Sport . 30 July 2023 . 30 July 2023.
- Web site: Rahhou . Jihane . L'Equipe Sparks Outrage with Article Targeting Nouhaila Benzina's Wearing Hijab . 2023-08-01 . moroccoworldnews . en.
- Web site: 2023-07-31 . Morocco's Nouhaila Benzina makes history by wearing Hijab at the World Cup: A triumph fueled by controversy . 2023-08-01 . HESPRESS English - Morocco News . en-US.
- Web site: Zouiten . Sara . France's CNews Makes Islamophobic Remarks Toward Hijabi Moroccan Footballer . 2023-08-01 . moroccoworldnews . en.
- Web site: L'Afrique du Sud remporte la CAN 2022 ! . FIFA . fr . 2 July 2022 .