Morocco’s Nouhaila Benzina is first player to wear hijab at World Cup

Moroccan footballer Nouhaila Benzina became the first female player to wear a hijab at a FIFA World Cup.

Morocco earned a surprise 1-0 victory over South Korea on Sunday to secure the country’s first win at a Women’s World Cup in a match in Australia.

The 25-year-old defender was an unused substitute for Morocco’s opening 6-0 defeat against Germany last week but was selected in the starting line-up by manager Reynald Pedros for the crucial match in Adelaide.

The wearing of head coverings for religious reasons was authorized by FIFA in 2014. FIFA had previously banned the hijab on health and safety grounds but that was changed in 2014 before the Under-17 Women’s World Cup that was held in Jordan.

Benzina wore a white Islamic headscarf as she played the entire match in a vital victory that kept alive Morocco’s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages on their World Cup debut, according to the Guardian.

Benzina, who plays in Morocco for AS FAR football club, is the first player to wear a hijab at a senior women’s international tournament.

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