Pakistan women team to participate in maiden FIFA series
LAHORE: The Pakistan women footballers are set to create history as they participate in its maiden FIFA series due to be played in Côte d’Ivoire – a West African country between April 9 and 16. The Women footballers are due to depart on Monday (today)
“The epoch-making milestone in the history of women’s football in Pakistan has been made possible due to the futuristic leadership and tireless efforts of the President, Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Mohsen Gilani,” stated the Director PFF’s Women’s Football Department during a press conference here on Sunday
Mejzgaan Orakzai, Director of the Pakistan Football Federation Women’s Football Department, stated that the team’s participation in their first-ever FIFA event was made possible by efforts by PFF President Mohsen Gilani.
“I would like to thank PFF President Mohsen Gilani, whose personal efforts have resulted in Pakistan being able to participate in the FIFA Series,” she said. “Without his personal involvement and the collaboration of PFF staff we wouldn’t have been able to do this.”
The FIFA Series places Pakistan in competition against sides from outside their usual confederation boundaries — Turks and Caicos Islands (CONCACAF), Mauritania, and Ivory Coast (both CAF) — an opportunity that required deliberate pursuit at the highest level of federation leadership.
“This is a unique opportunity to play outside of our confederation,” she said. “We are exposed to different styles of playing, different tactical identities. Our global connections are fostered and developed. This is crucial for the team’s growth.”
On the strength of the squad, Head Coach Adeel Rizki was measured but unambiguous in his assessment of this squad. “The preparations have been quite strong. I believe this is one of the strongest squads we’ve had so far. We expect to go there and compete at the highest level and make Pakistan proud,” he added.
On selection criterion, Rizki outlined a philosophy built entirely on footballing merit — and one that explicitly rejects any division between diaspora and locally-based players.
“There is no diaspora versus local. We need to keep the balance correct and grow the entire ecosystem. We look at the characteristics and character of the player, their current form, the opponents we are facing, and which players best suit our game model. The question is always: which Pakistani player is best suited for which position. That is how we go about it.”
On future goals, the Women’s team Head Coach said that SAFF Championship was a short-term target, adding that a qualification spot in the Asian qualifiers is another goal. “Olympic qualifiers and the FIFA Women’s World Cup are the long-term goals,” he claimed.
Women’s football captain Maria Khan, during the press conference, said, “The Pressure is on Ivory Coast. Not on Us.”*
On facing higher-ranked opposition, including Ivory Coast — a side with World Cup qualification experience — Khan did not flinch. “Playing higher-ranked opponents is nothing new to us. We played the Philippines before, which was also a World Cup team. Since then, the team has grown — not just in experience, but in character and playing ability. Anytime you get to play in these situations, it’s an opportunity to do something great. The pressure is on Ivory Coast. It’s not on us.”
Asked about her favourite memory in a Pakistan shirt, Ms. Khan said, “It was back in 2022. Lining up to represent the country for the first time and hearing the national anthem. It just hits different.” APP
