England’s Football Association (FA) said women players across its competitions are allowed to wear clothing that follows their religious beliefs after former Somalia captain Iqra Ismail was prevented from playing a match for not wearing shorts.

Ismail, who is also a coach, said in an Instagram video that she had been playing in the Greater London Women’s Football League (GLWFL) for five years wearing tracksuit bottoms but on Sunday she was not allowed to come on as a substitute for United Dragons.

“The Middlesex FA referee for yesterday’s game said that the league had told him strictly not to allow women like me to wear tracksuit bottoms… if it matches our kit or not,” Ismail, a Muslim, said.

“If we do not wear shorts, we cannot play. That is what I was told yesterday.”

The FA said that they were aware of the matter and were in contact with the Middlesex FA to ensure it is quickly resolved.

“We proactively wrote to all county FAs and match officials across the women’s grassroots game earlier this year to confirm that women and girls should be allowed to wear clothing that ensures their faith or religious beliefs are not compromised,” a spokesperson from the FA said on Wednesday.

The Middlesex FA said they were in contact with the FA and the league to resolve the matter.

“Guidance from the FA was issued to all County FAs and match officials across the women’s grassroots game earlier this year to confirm that women and girls should be allowed to wear clothing that ensures their faith or religious beliefs are not compromised,” a spokesperson said.

“We are working with all our stakeholders to ensure they can apply this guidance effectively and remain deeply committed to ensuring that English football is an inclusive and welcoming environment for everybody.”

The GLWFL said in a statement it was their understanding that players were required to wear shorts on top of clothing that covered their legs.

“However, we have since been made aware that shorts on top of tracksuits or tights are not required… we will be providing this updated guidance to all our match officials and members,” the league wrote on X.

-Reuters

The Super Falcons on Tuesday cruised to a 4-1 win over their Algerian counterparts in the second of two international friendlies between both teams, with long-time absentee Folashade Ijamilusi bagging a hat-trick in the afternoon at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.

True to his words, Farid Benstiti’s lasses started with more poise and assurance than they showed in the first game in Ikenne-Remo on Saturday, and on a couple of occasions, carved open opportunities in the Nigerian rear.

However, former junior international Ijamilusi opened scoring for Nigeria after 12 minutes, scoring from a corner-kick, and doubled the lead nine minutes later after latching onto a second ball following Blessing Ilivieda’s effort that cannoned off the crossbar.

Undaunted, the Green Ladies stepped up another gear, and could have reduced the tally in the 39^th minute when Nigeria conceded a penalty kick. But Lina Boussaha missed from the spot. Yet, two minutes later, they could have scored with a powerful shot by Laura Muller but goalkeeper Rachael Unachukwu saved.

However, Ouassila Alouache ghosted past the Nigerian defence in the 43^rd minute, to slot past Unachukwu for the Algerians’ only goal of the two-match tour.

Determined to retain their two-goal lead, the Super Falcons, who won the first encounter 2-0 with a brace from Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, increased the pressure on their visitors, and Gift Monday netted the third with a powerful header in added time of the first period.

An entertaining second half produced only one goal, with Ijamilusi assuring her hat-trick with minutes left in the second half.

The impressive run of the Nigerian U-17 Women’s team, Flamingos has come to an end at the FIFA U17 World Cup in the Dominican Republic after their 2-0 loss to the United States in the quarterfinals.

Yes, they were beaten, but not outplayed.  They had 45% possession of the ball as against America’s 40% while 15% is in contention.

Flamingos had 17 attempts at goal and had held their defence so well until the late first-half penalty kick that broke the camel’s back.

In the final analysis, Kennedy Fuller’s first-half penalty and Kimmi Ascanio’s late goal lifted USA over Nigeria and into the Dominican Republic 2024 semi-finals.

It was a rematch of their epic quarter-final from India 2022, USA avenged their penalty shootout defeat against Nigeria with a victory in their FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup Dominican Republic 2024™ quarter-final at CFC Stadium in Santiago de los Caballeros. It sends USA to the semi-finals for the first time since the inaugural edition in 2008.