A Moroccan soccer player has made history by becoming the first player to wear a hijab while competing in the Women's World Cup.
On Sunday (July 30), Nouhaila Benzina made her first appearance in the tournament during her home country's game against South Korea at the Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide.
The 25-year-old defender donned a white Islamic headscarf - also known as a hijab - as she played the full 90 minutes of the match which ended in a 1-0 win for Morocco.
The victory allowed the team to qualify for the knockout stages of the international competition.
Benzina became the first senior soccer star to wear the religious garment after FIFA authorized a rule to allow players to wear a head covering for religious reasons back in 2014.
Initially, the organization imposed a ban on playing in the apparel for "health and safety reasons" but that was overturned after backlash from athletes, activists, government, and soccer officials, per Sky News. That same year, the Under-17s Women's World Cup became the first tournament where players wore Muslim headscarves.
Many users have taken to social media to applaud Benzina's decision to sport the hijab while doing what she loves. One user wrote: "The importance of this cannot be overstated. Seeing yourself in international sport is essential in forming #RoleModels and understanding sport is for all. Regardless of how the rest of the tournament goes Nouhaila Benzina is a champion already in our eyes."
Another person said: "The happiness this moment would have brought to so many young girls is simply wonderful. Inshallah, it’s the first of many hijabs to grace the women’s footballing stage!"
A third commented that the athlete is a "role model" and a "game changer".
Assmaah Helal, a co-founder of the Muslim Women in Sports Network, shared that Benzina's decision to wear a headscarf will inspire others to follow a career in the sport if they choose to do so.
"I have no doubt that more and more women and Muslim girls will look at Benzina and just really be inspired - not just the players, but I think decision-makers, coaches, other sports as well," Helal said, as cited by the outlet.
This is Morocco's tournament debut, and they are the first Arab or North African nation to qualify. Ghizlane Chebbak, the team captain, recently spoke about the significance of their participation, stating: "We feel that we have to shoulder a big responsibility to give a good image, to show the achievements the Moroccan team has made."
Morocco is currently sitting third in Group H and will face off against second-place Columbia in their next match, which is on August 3.
