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

The wearing of hijab on the world stage has always been a contentious subject. For the past 20 years, there was a ban on the wearing of hijab on the pitch. In 2007, a referee barred an 11-year-old Canadian girl from wearing her hijab to play in a derby. FIFA stepped in and banned the wearing of the Islamic identity scarf in its officiated games.

FIFA stated that wearing the hijab posed health and safety concerns, over fears a player risked being choked while playing football. In the years that ensued, there have been several efforts to right FIFA’s ban on the wearing of hijab.

It was therefore considered historic when Nouhaila Benzina became the first footballer to wear a hijab at the Women’s World Cup on Sunday. The 25-year-old Moroccan defender has not commented on the issue, but, she has made several posts flaunting her hijab.

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Source: theeastafrican.co.ke

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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