Afghanistan’s football-playing girls escape, land in Portugal | Sunday Observer

Afghanistan’s football-playing girls escape, land in Portugal

26 September, 2021
Afghanistan’s girls’ football team pictured in Portugal’s capital Lisbon
Afghanistan’s girls’ football team pictured in Portugal’s capital Lisbon

The girls football team of Afghanistan has found asylum in the soccer-crazy country of Portugal as they made their getaway following the take over of the country by the hardline Taliban government which ceased power through the barrel of a gun..

“They left their homes and left everything behind,” Farkhunda Muhtaj, the former captain of the Afghanistan women’s national team now in Canada who helped to arrange their rescue, told The Associated Press.

The Taliban has banned women and girls from taking part in sports activities since they ousted the elected government in Afghanistan whose head of state fled the country after American troops withdrew last month.

Robert McCreary, a former congressional chief of staff and White House official who worked with special forces in Afghanistan and helped lead the effort to rescue the girls team, said Portugal granted the girls and their families asylum.

“The world came together to help these girls and their families,” said McCreary.

“These girls are truly a symbol of light for the world and humanity.”

Some of the girls said they wanted to continue playing soccer and hope to meet Portugal’s football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Comments