Let Northern Muslim Girls Play Football -By Seun Elere

Nouhaila Benzina’s recent performance on the world stage is more than just an athletic triumph—it is a powerful reminder that Muslim women can participate in sports like football while upholding Islamic values. Her historic appearance at the Women’s World Cup, wearing a hijab, should serve as a wake-up call to all of us in Nigeria, especially in the North: it is time to remove the barriers keeping our daughters off the pitch.

I recall a recent visit to a petrol station in the heart of Kano, where all the attendants were women—dignified, professional, and confident in their roles. At Barakat Supermarket in the same city, I saw an entire afternoon shift being run by female cashiers. These examples are not isolated; they are part of a quiet but significant shift. By promoting women’s economic participation, we not only empower them but also take concrete steps toward reducing sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).

Sports is another frontier we must not ignore.

Participation in athletics is not foreign to Islamic tradition. A well-documented narration recounts how Aisha (RA), the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), raced with him. This act tells us that sports, when done within the bounds of modesty, are not only acceptable but encouraged.

Thankfully, FIFA’s 2014 decision to permit hijabs on the field opened doors for visibly Muslim women to participate in football without compromising their faith. Now, we must ask ourselves: what’s stopping us in Northern Nigeria from nurturing our own Benzinas?

Unfortunately, our national women’s football teams continue to be dominated by players from the South. This imbalance is not for lack of talent in the North, it is a reflection of cultural resistance and lack of institutional support. We need a shift in mindset. Our communities, our leaders, and especially our parents must understand that encouraging girls to play football is not a betrayal of faith, but a means of empowerment.

Let’s invest in safe, supportive environments for girls to train. Let’s organize inter-school competitions, equip local clubs, and mentor young female athletes. And above all, let’s raise our voices in mosques, in homes, and in policy discussions to say: our daughters deserve the same opportunities to dream and to score goals for Nigeria.

Seun Elere (Mohammed Salim)
Public Affairs Analyst