Banned from football at home, Afghan women's team reunite 8,000 miles away

The 23-member Afghan women's football team, formerly banned from representing their country due to the Taliban's restrictions, recently reunited in New Zealand. The squad, comprised of players living abroad, has gathered there for a training camp and to play two unofficial friendly games against the Cook Islands. This marks the first time they have been together since FIFA ruled that they could represent Afghanistan in official matches.

Previously, they were required to obtain approval from the Afghanistan Football Federation, which was not possible under Taliban rule. The national women's team, formed in 2007, was disbanded under Taliban rule, which imposed severe restrictions on women and girls, including bans on education, most professions, and organized sports.

The team's coach, Be strong as always because we are representing Afghan women, says midfielder Fatima Haidari to her fellow members, encouraged the players before they headed out to the pitch. Many of the women have faced significant challenges in their journeys to play football. For instance, Manozh Noori, who now lives in Australia, grew up playing football with boys in Kabul, eventually rising through the ranks and winning league titles and individual awards.

However, her past was jeopardized when her brother discovered she was playing, leading to threats against her family. Despite these obstacles, Noori persevered and eventually moved to Australia, bringing her mother and sister with her.

Mursal Sadat, another player living in Australia, works as a football coach and youth facilitator, advocating for refugees, women's rights, and human rights. She recalls how playing football helped her and her family escape Afghanistan, allowing her sister to continue her education. Now 24, Sadat is engaged to a man who supports her work and participation in the national team.

As the team prepares to face the Cook Islands, they remain eager to represent their country and reclaim their right to play football, a sport that has been integral to their survival and personal growth during a tumultuous period in their country's history.