Afghan Team Celebrates Return Despite Loss in Morocco

An Afghan women refugee football team suffered a 6-1 loss to Chad in Morocco on Sunday, but players celebrated finally competing internationally after years of restrictions.

Women football has been banned in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained control in 2021, forcing female athletes to flee the country to avoid persecution and harassment.

Before the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan had a women national team with 25 contracted players, most of whom have relocated to Australia to continue their football careers safely.

The last international match for Afghanistan women ended in a 5-0 loss to Qatar in 2021, but FIFA approved the formation of a refugee team earlier this year.

Pauline Hamill was appointed coach of the newly formed team, which was named Afghan Women United following consultations with FIFA prior to the tournament debut.

Match served as the opening game of the FIFA Unites Women Series tournament, featuring four teams, including Chad, Tunisia, and Libya, held in Berrechid, Morocco.

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Captain Fatima Haidari expressed gratitude, saying the opportunity represents years of struggle for Afghan women to play sports and represent their country internationally.

Afghan Women United opened the scoring with a penalty from Melbourne-based striker Manozh Noori, sparking celebrations among teammates and spectators watching the historic match.

Chad recovered quickly after conceding and dominated the match, eventually securing a decisive 6-1 victory over Afghan Women United in front of a supportive crowd.

Despite the loss, Afghan Women United will continue competing with matches against Tunisia on Wednesday and Libya on Saturday, aiming to gain experience and exposure internationally.

For Afghan players, participation in this event symbolizes more than results, representing freedom, resilience, and the ability to play football despite harsh restrictions in their homeland.

The journey of Afghan Women United highlights the struggle for women sports in Afghanistan and the perseverance of athletes who continue pursuing their passion abroad.