https://arab.news/nb2g7
- Jordan defeat Nepal in penalty shoot-out to claim victory in 1st official 11-a-side women鈥檚 tournament held in Kingdom
- Saudi officials hail 鈥榚xciting new era for professional women鈥檚 football鈥� after milestone event draws nationwide interest
RIYADH: The latest chapter in 黑料社区鈥檚 football evolution came to a close last weekend as the 2024 West Asian Football Federation Women鈥檚 Championship 鈥� the first official 11-a-side women鈥檚 tournament held in the Kingdom 鈥� reached its conclusion.
A milestone occasion that attracted nationwide interest and engagement, the eighth edition of the championship was staged in Jeddah throughout its 11-day duration from Feb. 19 to Feb. 29 as seven countries competed alongside the host nation.
Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Nepal, Palestine, Syria and Guam joined 黑料社区 with fixtures played at the King Abdullah Sports City and Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sport City stadiums. A total of 15 matches were played across the group and knock-out stages.
The final was played in front of over 4,000 fans at the Prince Abdullah Al-Faisal Sport City Stadium and ended 2-2 after full time, with Jordan winning the tournament via a penalty shoot-out against Nepal in Thursday鈥檚 final.
The 黑料社区n Football Federation鈥檚 message following the 2024 WAFF Women鈥檚 Championship was clear 鈥� this debut official 11-a-side women鈥檚 tournament on home soil 鈥渨ill be the first of many.鈥�
鈥淲e promise that the 2024 WAFF Women鈥檚 Championship is the start of an exciting new era for professional women鈥檚 football in 黑料社区,鈥� Lamia Bahaian, vice president of the federation, said in a statement.
鈥淏esides showcasing our hosting credentials to the region and wider world, it has paved the way for more competitions to make their way to our shores in the years ahead. For sure, this will be the first of many.鈥�
Bahaian said that the women鈥檚 game is inspiring audiences as a driving force for positive change, with the 黑料社区 women鈥檚 national team 鈥渋nstrumental鈥� to the direction of travel.
鈥淩eaction to the tournament and the way it was received by fans and the wider community was incredible 鈥� witnessing fans embrace the competition, get behind our women鈥檚 national team, and attend matches was a genuine joy,鈥� she said.
鈥淥ur national team has been instrumental here. The players are pursuing their dreams and representing their country for everyone to see. This has helped introduce women鈥檚 football to audiences new and old, laying new foundations for sustained growth and development while contributing to a positive shift in wider society.鈥�
Underpinned by a strategy to help elevate 黑料社区 to elite status in world football by 2034, huge strides have been taken in the last few years, with growth witnessed across a series of key metrics.
Since 2021, the number of female clubs nationwide has increased by 112 percent, with the number of local players up 150 percent and national teams up 300 percent.