In this guide, we’ll break away from the usual football headlines and discuss seven incredible female Muslim players you need to know about. These ladies are super talented and have been fantastic, tearing up the football field. In no time, let’s dive right in.
1. Asisat Oshoala
Asisat Oshoala is a Nigerian football star and one of the greatest female players Africa has ever produced. Born in 1994, she plays as a striker for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia and the Nigerian national team, the Super Falcons.
Known as “Àgba Baller,” meaning “Legendary Footballer,” she has broken many records in women’s football. Oshoala has played for top clubs like Liverpool, Arsenal, Dalian in China, and Barcelona, where she became the first African woman to win the UEFA Champions League and later lifted it three times.
She also made history as the first African woman to score in a Champions League final, win Spain’s top scorer award, and earn a Ballon d’Or nomination. She has won the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award six times and gained huge recognition at the 2014 U-20 World Cup. In 2021, Forbes listed her in its “30 Under 30.”
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2. Nouhaila Benzina
Nouhaila Benzina, born on May 11, 1998, is a Moroccan footballer who plays as a defender for AS FAR and the Morocco women’s national team. In July 2023, she became the first woman to wear a hijab during a World Cup match, inspiring Muslim girls and athletes everywhere.
Benzina has played her club career with AS FAR, winning many league titles, cups, and even the CAF Women’s Champions League. She has also represented Morocco at both youth and senior levels.
The 2023 World Cup was her first time on football’s biggest stage, and also Morocco’s debut in the tournament. With her achievements, both on and off the field, Benzina is a role model who shows that faith and sport can go hand in hand.
3. Hawa Cissoko
Hawa Cissoko is a talented French footballer who plays as a defender for AS Roma in Italy and has also represented the France national team. She first started playing football at 12 with FC Solitaire before moving to Paris Saint-Germain’s youth team.
Her professional career began with PSG in the 2014–15 season. She later played for Marseille and Soyaux, and then joined West Ham United in 2020. At West Ham, she had both tough and proud moments, like a five-game ban in 2022 after an on-field clash, but also big highlights such as scoring her first career goal against Tottenham. In 2023, she made history, scoring the winning goal in West Ham’s first-ever league victory over Arsenal.
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4. Hanane Aït El-Haj
Hanane Aït El-Haj is one of Morocco’s top female footballers. Born in 1994, she plays as a defender for AS FAR and the Moroccan women’s national team. She started her career with AS FAR in 2016, then spent one season in Spain with Zaragoza CFF before returning to her home club.
With AS FAR, she has won many titles, including several league championships, Throne Cups, and the 2022 CAF Women’s Champions League. On the international level, Hanane has been a key player for Morocco.
She was part of the squad that reached the final of the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and helped the team qualify for their first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023.
At the tournament, she scored an own goal against Germany but also assisted Morocco’s first World Cup goal against South Korea. Aït El-Haj is now seen as a leader and role model in African women’s football.
5. Ghizlane Chebbak
Here’s another incredible female Muslim player you need to know about, Ghizlane Chebbak. She’s a rising star in Moroccan women’s football. Ghizlane is a forward, and she’s a force to be reckoned with, currently playing for ASFAR. Chebbak comes from a football lineage; her dad, Larbi Chebbak, was a player for the Morocco men’s national team back in the 1970s.
Beginning her journey with Ain Sebaa, Ghizlane’s career took her to Rachad Bernoussi, Wydad AC, Raja CA, and the Municipal Club of Al-Ayoun before heading to Egypt to play for Misr Lel Makkasa SC.
Political instability cut short her experience in Egypt, prompting a return to Morocco to play for Al Nassim (Sidi Moumen) and eventually landing at AS FAR in 2012. Ghizlane’s trophy cabinet is impressive, boasting 10 Moroccan Women’s Championship wins and 9 Moroccan Women’s Throne Cup victories with AS FAR.
In the 2013-14 season, she set a club record after scoring 54 goals in 20 matches and clinching the top scorer title five times. Her international career includes representing Morocco in the CAF Women’s Champions League, where AS FAR finished third in 2021 and secured a historic 4-0 victory in 2022.
Although Ghizlane missed the latter due to injury, her impact on the team is undeniable. In 2023, she was nominated for the prestigious titles of African Player of the Year and Interclub Player of the Year by CAF.
6. Ouleymata Sarr
Ouleymata Sarr, the French forward, caught my attention with her incredible on-field performances. She’s the real deal and is currently playing for the Washington Spirit in the American National Women’s Soccer League.
Ouleymata started with Paris Saint-Germain, where she scored in the UEFA Women’s Champions League against Frankfurt, a memorable debut on the big stage.
After four seasons, she moved to Lille, and there, she scored a jaw-dropping hat-trick in her first game. The 2018–19 season saw her netting 17 more goals. In 2019, she took her talents to Bordeaux and later joined Paris FC in 2021. In June 2023, Ouleymata made a move to join the Washington Spirit.
After her contract with Paris FC was completed, she officially signed a three-year deal with the Spirit. Internationally, Sarr has been making waves since 2014. She was part of the French U19 and U20 teams, showing off her skills at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. In 2017, she notched the opening goal for the French senior team in an impressive 8–0 victory against Ghana.
While she missed out on the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she didn’t let that setback hold her back, playing in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022. However, the 2020–21 season with Bordeaux was marred by injuries, which limited her to just three matches. But true to her resilient spirit, she bounced back and secured a spot with Paris FC before crossing the Atlantic.
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7. Khadija Shaw
Khadija Monifa “Bunny” Shaw is a Jamaican Muslim female football sensation, and she’s currently playing for Manchester City in the Women’s Super League. Bunny Shaw is a goal-scoring machine, and she is Jamaica’s all-time top goalscorer for both men and women.
She’s an integral part of Jamaica in the 2019 and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cups. Bunny comes from Spanish Town, Jamaica, and she was born into a family of 13 siblings.
Her love for carrots earned her the nickname ‘Bunny,’ a cute little story from her brother Kentardo. She started her football career at age 10 when she started playing with her older brothers, and by 13, she was representing Jamaica U15s.
Bunny graduated from the University of Tennessee, graduating with a degree in communication. She is good as a striker, earning honors and catching the eye of scouts. Club-wise, she’s been all over.
From playing for Florida Krush in 2018 to a stellar performance in France with Bordeaux, where she snagged the Division 1 Féminine Player of the Month not once but twice.
In 2021, Manchester City scored big by signing Bunny from Bordeaux. In her first season, she scored a hat-trick and helped clinch the FA Women’s League Cup. However, Bunny Shaw’s second season at Manchester City was legendary. She became the club’s highest-scoring women’s player in a single season.
She even bagged the 2022 CONCACAF Female Player of the Year, a historic moment for Caribbean players. As if that’s not enough, she signed a two-year contract extension with Manchester City, promising more goal-scoring magic until 2026.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.