Head coach Pauline Hamill has announced the 23-player squad for the Afghan women’s refugee team as they prepare to head into a four-team tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
Hamill and her technical staff selected the team after three multi-day talent identification camps in Australia and England, and they will now head to the UAE later this month to play three friendly matches as part of the FIFA Unites: Women’s Series.
“We held three ID camps, which gave us a really good chance to assess all of the players and put us in a strong position to announce the squad,” said Hamill in a statement. “It’s such an exciting moment and one that I think that everyone who’s been involved in the programme can be extremely proud of.”
The full squad is: Montana Moslih, Bahara Samimi, Khursand Azazi, Susan Khojasta, Mursal Sadat, Mona Amini, Sevin Azimi, Nazia Ali, Manozh Noori, Fatema Haidari, Nilab Mohammadi, Fatima Yousufi, Kereshma Abasi, Najma Arefi, Bahara Kohistani, Zainab Mozaffari, Mina Ahmadi, Elaha Safdari, Maryam Karimyar, Fatema Urfani, Azi Zada, Sosan Mohammadi, Bibi Noori.
The Afghan women’s refugee squad comprises 13 players based in Australia, five in the United Kingdom, three in Portugal and two in Italy.
“This opportunity to play international football again represents a new beginning for me. A chance to rewrite my story, show my dedication, and proudly represent Afghanistan on the world stage,” said defender Kereshma Abasi. “It is not just about football; it is about inspiring others and proving that with hard work and resilience, anything is possible.”
“We’ve worked hard for this moment and it’s hard to put into words how special it feels,” added Rotherham United goalkeeper Elaha Safdari. “This opportunity is a strong step forward that shows the world that Afghan women are capable of achieving amazing things.”
