Pakistan women to make FIFA Series debut in Ivory Coast

LAHORE: Pakistan’s senior women’s football team is preparing for a historic debut at the FIFA Series in Ivory Coast, becoming the first Pakistani women’s side to compete in a tournament organised by the sport’s global governing body.

The squad is scheduled to leave for Ivory Coast on Monday, ahead of their opening match against the Turks and Caicos Islands on April 9. They will then face Mauritania on April 12 and wrap up the group stage against hosts Ivory Coast on April 16. The team will be led by head coach Adeel Rizki.

Forward Nadia Khan praised Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) president Mohsen Gilani for making the participation possible. She described the chance to play in a FIFA event as an invaluable opportunity to gain international exposure.

Goalkeeper Zeeyana Jivraj highlighted that the selection by FIFA is a milestone for the team, which has often struggled to assemble for extended training sessions. “Having a few weeks to prepare together will help us build chemistry and compete effectively,” she said.

Midfielder Sanah Mehdi encouraged fans to follow the team’s matches. “Support from home motivates us and drives our performance. We hope everyone gets behind us during the tournament,” she said.

The training camp in Lahore concludes on Sunday, ahead of the team’s departure.

Squad List:

Goalkeepers: Zeeyana Jivraj, Nisha Ashraf, Arzoo Hazara
Defenders: Isra Khan, Anaya Ahmad, Anmol Hira, Kayla Siddiqui, Karissa Jivraj, Alia Sadiq, Maria Khan, Nizalia Siddiqi
Midfielders: Suha Hirani, Rameen Fareed, Layla Banaras, Sanah Mehdi, Zehmena Malik
Forwards: Mariam Mahmood, Aqsa Mushtaq, Aiman Altaf, Nadia Khan, Maryam Zehri, Azwa Chaudhry