Nouhaila Benzina, who plays as defender for the Morocco women’s national football team, became the first footballer to wear a hijab at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, check out her brief bio and age
Up until 2014, FIFA had banned the hijab, but the ban eventually got lifted following a campaign by Muslim players and activists.
Who is Nouhaila Benzina who wore hijab in FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, bio, age, height, football stats, Instagram
Morocco defender Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a hijab while competing at a Women's World Cup today.
This tournament continues to inspire and break boundaries for future generations 👏 pic.twitter.com/3LLtDT8Pk4
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 30, 2023
Morocco's Nouhaila Benzina became the first player to wear a hijab at a #FIFAWWC in their 1-0 win over South Korea 👏 pic.twitter.com/7abEjHNZRa
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 30, 2023
Benzina wore the hijab (a Muslim headscarf) during Morocco’s recent 1-0 win against South Korea on July 30, 2023.
Nouhaila Benzina becomes first footballer to wear hijab at FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Moroccan female footballer Nouhaila Benzina has become the first ever footballer to wear a hijab at a FIFA Women’s World Cup competition. The 25-year-old shared that she was proud to represent her country as well as her faith on the global stage. She shared:
Lots of work was done over many years, and thank God it had a positive result. We hope to play at a high level and honour Moroccans.
Aside from Benzina there are other Moroccan players who wear the hijab. Moreover, there are also some players from other countries such as Iran, Afghanistan, and Indonesia who choose to wear it. However, Benzina is the first among all of these players to wear it on the senior-level. FIFA had originally banned the hijab until 2014, on grounds of health and safety concerns. However, Muslim players and activists launched a campaign arguing that the ban was discriminatory and violated their religious freedom. As a result, FIFA lifted the ban and now allows head coverings, which must be attached to the shirt and expose the neck area.
Nouhaila Benzina brief bio
Nouhaila Benzina is a Moroccan professional footballer who was born on May 11, 1998, in Kenitra, Morocco. She currently plays as a defender for ASFAR as well as the Morocco women’s national football team. Nouhaila has made history by becoming the first ever female player to wear an Islamic headscarf, the hijab, during a senior-level FIFA Women’s World Cup competition.
Age and height
Nouhaila Benzina is currently 25 years old and stands at a height of 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in).
Nouhaila Benzina career
Nouhaila Benzina started out playing football at the early age of six. She later joined ASFAR in 2014, which is one of the most successful professional football clubs in Morocco. Benzina made her national team debut back in 2018 and currently plays as a regular starter on the team. She plays as a right-footed defender.
Hijab meaning a purpose
A Hijab is a headcovering worn by most Muslim women and comes in many forms. In most cases, it refers to a headscarf, which is wrapped around the head and neck, and covers the hair, neck, and ears except for the face. Islamic women wear the hijab as a mark of retaining their modesty, morals and freedom of choice. They believe that wearing it liberates them and allows them to avoid harassment.