Romesa Umar

ABIDJAN: Pakistan opened its FIFA Series campaign with an 8-0 victory over Turks and Caicos Islands at Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, C&ocirc;te d&#39;Ivoire, on Thursday. The win marked Pakistan&rsquo;s biggest-ever margin of victory, surpassing their previous 7-0 result against Maldives in September 2022, signaling a strong start under coach Adeel Rizki. Pakistan dominated from the outset, creating early chances through Mariam Mahmood and Nadia Khan before Zahmena Malik broke the deadlock in the 10th minute. Aqsa Mushtaq doubled the lead two minutes later, converting a rebound after Mahmood&rsquo;s effort was saved. Layla Banaras extended the advantage in the 31st minute with a composed finish following a solo run, while Mahmood added a fourth in the 38th minute with a volley at the back post to cap a commanding first-half display. Pakistan maintained control after the break, with Nadia Khan heading in the fifth goal in the 56th minute from a cross on the left. Aqsa Mushtaq scored her second in the 76th minute with a long-range strike, while Layla Banaras also completed a brace with a shot from outside the box. Isra Khan sealed the 8-0 victory in the 81st minute. Pakistan Football Federation President Syed Mohsen Gillani congratulated the team, calling the result historic. &ldquo;I congratulate the players and the coaching staff for creating history,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This is the start of a new era for women&rsquo;s football in Pakistan and I hope the team continues in the same vein in the FIFA series.&rdquo; Gillani also dedicated the victory to the country&rsquo;s leadership. &ldquo;At a time when our PM and CDF are playing a historic role for peace, our girls have created history on the football field,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; &ldquo;We dedicate this victory to our leadership for their dedication. The golden era for Pakistan women&rsquo;s football is dawning upon us.&rdquo;

Cricket

Claims biggest-ever international win with dominant 8-0 victory over Turks and Caicos Islands in FIFA Series opener.

Pakistan secure biggest-ever win, beat Turks and Caicos 8-0

PARIS: Two more players of the Iranian women&#39;s football team, which competed in the Asian Cup in Australia, and one member of the backroom staff have withdrawn their requests for asylum in the country, Iranian state media said on Saturday.&nbsp;Seven members of the visiting women&#39;s football delegation, six players and one backroom staff member, had sought sanctuary in Australia after they were branded &quot;traitors&quot; at home for refusing to sing the national anthem during the ongoing war between Iran and the US and its ally Israel.&nbsp;One of the players had withdrawn her request earlier in the week and linked up with the rest of the team, who are returning to Iran via Malaysia, according to Iranian media and Australian authorities.&nbsp;State broadcaster IRIB said on Saturday, &quot;two players and a member of the technical staff of the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iranian-womens-football-team-member-changes-mind-on-asylum-in-australia" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">women&#39;s national football team</a> have given up on their asylum application in Australia and are currently heading to Malaysia.&quot;&nbsp;It posted a picture of the three women as they were apparently about to board a plane.&nbsp;The rest of the team are believed to still be in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, awaiting their return to Iran.&nbsp;According to Australian authorities, the first woman who changed her mind over the asylum application exposed the location of the other <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/five-iran-women-footballers-take-asylum-in-australia" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">asylum seekers</a> when she contacted Iran&#39;s embassy in Australia.&nbsp;They were then forced to change the safe house where they were living.&nbsp;Rights groups have repeatedly accused Iranian authorities of pressuring athletes abroad by threatening relatives or with the seizure of property if they defect or make statements against the Islamic republic.&nbsp;Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has lauded the bravery of the women, vowing they would be welcomed with open arms.&nbsp;But Iran&#39;s governing football body has accused Australia of kidnapping the players and forcing them to forsake their home nation against their will.&nbsp;Iranian players fell silent as the national anthem played ahead of a tournament match in Australia, an act seen as a symbol of defiance against the Islamic republic.&nbsp;A presenter on Iranian state TV branded the players &quot;wartime traitors&quot;, fuelling fears they faced persecution, or worse, if they returned home.&nbsp;Five players, including captain Zahra Ghanbari, slipped away from the team hotel under the cover of darkness to claim asylum in Australia.&nbsp;Two more team members, a player and a support staffer, claimed asylum before the team flew out of Sydney earlier this week.

An undated photo released by Australia's Department of Home Affairs on March 11, 2026, shows two more members of the Iranian women's football team, which took part in the Asian Cup. (Photo: AFP/File)

Football

State broadcaster IRIB says "two players and a member of the technical staff of the women's national football team have given up on their asylum application in Australia and are currently heading to Malaysia."


Articles tagged with "women's football"

Pakistan secure biggest-ever win, beat Turks and Caicos 8-0

Pakistan secure biggest-ever win, beat Turks and Caicos 8-0

Iran state media says two more footballers pull Australia asylum bids