ABIDJAN: Pakistan’s women’s national football team is set to make its historic debut at the FIFA Series, with team officials describing the occasion as a major step forward for the country’s presence in international football.
Addressing local and international media in the vibrant West African city of Abidjan ahead of their opening match, with Côte d’Ivoire’s rich football culture and energetic atmosphere as the backdrop, Head Coach Adeel Rizki underscored the significance of the opportunity.
“This is the first time we are playing in a FIFA event, which is a very big opportunity for our players and us as a nation, as well as our member association,” Rizki said. “When you are given a chance to play at this level, you can't be nervous.”
"You can't be shy. We have to be looking forward to it and taking it in a very positive stride.”
Pakistan will begin their campaign against the Turks and Caicos Islands on April 9, followed by fixtures against Mauritania on April 12 and a home fixture against the Ivory Coast on April 16. The tournament is designed to increase competitive opportunities between national teams from different confederations and marks the first edition to feature a dedicated women’s series.
The squad arrived in Abidjan several days prior to the press conference and has since completed initial training sessions, with the coaching staff expressing satisfaction over the team’s preparation and morale.
Vice-Captain Suha Hirani highlighted the broader mission driving the players, emphasizing the significance of representation and progress.
“Our biggest motivation is to make sure that Pakistan women's football progresses in the world,” Hirani said. “We don't get that many chances to play, so every chance we get to represent Pakistan as a country, we want to show that women and girls in Pakistan are very capable of progressing in football on the world stage.”
She also acknowledged the strength of the opposition while affirming the team’s readiness.
“The opposition is very good, but we're also very prepared to face the challenges that are going to come,” she said.
On expectations for the tournament, Hirani remained confident.
“The aim is to win the whole series over here, and we hope to achieve that,” she stated, adding, “So far, this is the best team we've had. Over the last few years, we've had a good chance to gel as a team.”
Coach Rizki outlined a long-term development framework for Pakistan football, noting that sustained progress will require structured planning and continued investment.
“We are still a developing nation,” he said. “We have a short-term plan, a medium-term plan, and a long-term plan. Our federation is working very hard… giving competition to our team, starting a domestic league, playing all FIFA windows, and competing with different teams in Asia and then across the world as well. It's never going to be overnight, but the progression has to be there.”
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