Women's football in Lebanon
Women's football in Lebanon | |
---|---|
Country | Lebanon |
Governing body | Lebanon Football Association |
National team(s) | Women's national team |
First played | 2005[1] |
Registered players | 650 (as of 2019)[1] |
Clubs | 16 (2019–20) |
Club competitions | |
International competitions | |
WAFF Women's Clubs Championship FIFA Women's World Cup (National Team) AFC Women's Asian Cup (National Team) WAFF Women's Championship (National Team) |
Women's football in Lebanon officially began in 2005, with the creation of the Lebanese Women's Football (LWF).[1] While not popular, the sport is mainly played in affluent areas in Lebanon.[1][2] One of the barriers of the growing sport is the prejudice that many women face for playing it.[3][4][5][6][7] In recent years, however, football has become more widespread among the female population in Lebanon.[8] With the Lebanese Football Association (LFA) investing more into the youth system, Lebanon has achieved considerable success within its region (West Asia).[8][9]
The women's national under-17 team won the Arab U-17 Women's Cup in 2015, while in 2019 Lebanon won both the WAFF U-15 Girls Championship and the WAFF U-18 Girls Championship.[10][11] Also the senior team, mainly made up of the same youth players, came third in the 2019 WAFF Women's Championship.[12]
In 2019, Stars Association for Sports (SAS) were runners-up in the inaugural edition of the WAFF Women's Clubs Championship, a club competition for teams from West Asia.[13]
National competitions
League
The Lebanese Women's Football League was founded in 2008, with Sadaka winning the first title.[14] They went on to win six league titles in a row,[14] until they dissolved in 2013. From the 2014–15 season onwards, Stars Association for Sports (SAS) became the dominating force in Lebanon, winning five of the following six league titles.[14]
Cups
There are two domestic women's cup competitions in Lebanon: the Lebanese Women's FA Cup, and the Lebanese Women's Super Cup.[15]
National team
Founded in 2005 as one of the earliest women's national teams in West Asia, the Lebanese women's national team came third the WAFF Women's Championship twice: in 2007 and in 2019.[16][17] The women's national under-17 team won the 2015 Arab U-17 Women's Cup, while in 2019 Lebanon won both the WAFF U-15 Girls Championship and the WAFF U-18 Girls Championship.[10][11]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Wehbé, Johana (27 June 2019). "Au Liban aussi les femmes ont leur place sur un terrain de foot - Johana Wehbé". L'Orient-Le Jour (in French). Retrieved 3 July 2019.
- ^ "Lebanon optimistic towards women's football future". AFC. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^ "Lebanese women futsal players kick down barriers". indiatimes.com. 13 December 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2013.
- ^ "Lebanon's women breaking new ground". FIFA. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^ "Lebanese women's football revolution". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^ "Sports of The Times - A Female Kicker's Dream Continues at". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 December 2012.
- ^ "The all-female refugee football team smashing stereotypes". ActionAid UK. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
- ^ a b Afiouni, Nadim (4 March 2020). "Women's National Team head coach Wael Gharzeddine: the best is yet to come". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ FIFA.com. "Women's Football - News - New horizons for women's football in Lebanon - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ a b Abou Diab, Rami (16 December 2019). "Lebanon wins the 2019 U-15 West Asian Football Championship". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "THE WAFF- Lebanon crowned the "WAFF U18" title". www.the-waff.com. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
- ^ "Perfect Jordan retain West Asian title". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 18 January 2019.
- ^ "Shabab Al Ordon claim title with perfect 10 | Football News |". the-AFC. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ a b c "Lebanon - List of Women Champions". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ "Lebanon - List of Women Cup Winners". www.rsssf.com. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ "West Asia Womens Championship". www.goalzz.com. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
- ^ "Perfect Jordan retain West Asian title". www.the-afc.com. Retrieved 18 January 2019.