"I couldn't stop crying the entire time as it reminded me of a time that I was able to take that pride and play for my country [before the return of the Taliban in 2021]. Hopefully, Afghanistan will be competing by the next qualifiers."
"Morocco was a big milestone but for us it is only the beginning. As players we are always eager to represent Afghanistan again. Of course we want more international matches but we have stayed disciplined, training hard and improving as a team."
Afghan women footballers, displaced after the Taliban's 2021 return, watched the 2023 Women's World Cup from Australia with frustration as their country had no national team. A breakthrough occurred in October when FIFA recognized Afghan Women United, an exile-based team that played a friendly tournament in Morocco. This milestone followed a four-year struggle for international recognition. Despite the achievement, the team has faced limited match opportunities since Morocco. FIFA recently announced two upcoming matches in June, signaling continued progress toward full international participation. The players remain motivated and disciplined, training while awaiting more competitive fixtures and opportunities to represent Afghanistan on the global stage.
#afghan-womens-football #fifa-recognition #exile-athletes #international-sports-competition #womens-empowerment
Read at www.dw.com
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