...Event in Morocco provided breakthrough opportunities
The trailblazing FIFA Unites: Women’s Series 2025 concluded successfully, and dramatically, on Saturday in Berrechid, Morocco, with unbeaten Chad atop the four-team table and a historic measure of triumph enjoyed by each of the participating nations.
Among them was Afghanistan, who were represented courageously on the international stage by Afghan Women United for the first time, a squad of resilient women established as part of the multi-pillar FIFA Strategy for Action for Afghan Women’s Football.
Selected after three summer trials in Australia and England, Afghan Women United coalesced quickly under an experienced and supportive staff led by head coach Pauline Hamill of Scotland and assistant Shilene Booysen of South Africa.
They celebrated their first goal in a tournament-opening loss to Chad and then on Saturday at the Stade Municipal de Berrechid, Afghan Women United made history with a 7-0 win over Libya.
With three wins in three matches, Chad sealed first place thanks to a gripping 1-0 defeat of Tunisia in Saturday’s finale of the round-robin competition. It could be considered a surprising result on paper – Tunisia are 96th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking and played at both the 2022 and 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, while Chad were unranked at the start of the tournament. But women’s football is growing inexorably, and talent is blooming across new terrain.
After three matches, champions Chad and Libya will feature in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking for the first time.
Source/FIFA
