Women's World Cup '23: Morocco's Nouhaila Benzina makes history as first hijabed footballer
Nouhaila Benzina, a defender for Morocco, is the first World Cup participant to wear a headscarf, making her history.
In her debut appearance at the competition, the 25-year-old wore the hijab during her team's 1-0 victory over South Korea.
Fifa authorized the wearing of head coverings for religious purposes in 2014.
One of the eight teams competing in their first Women's World Cup this summer is Morocco.
Prior to the World Cup, Benzina posted on social media about donning a hijab, but she hasn't discussed it with the media in Australia and New Zealand.
It would be a proud occasion, she recently told the television Al Jazeera.
She remarked, "A lot of work was done over many years, and thank God it had a successful outcome.
We want to play well and represent Moroccans, the AFP reported.
In recent years, hijabs have been permitted in a number of other sports, including basketball, although they are still prohibited in France during official football matches.
Reynald Pedros, a French coach, is leading the Moroccan women, who finished second in the 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, to their first Women's World Cup.
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