‘We played for Gaza’: How Palestine’s U-20 Women’s team went from underdogs to champions

 ‘We played for Gaza’: How Palestine’s U-20 Women’s team went from underdogs to champions
When the U-20 West Asian Football Federation Championship kicked off last week, not much was expected from Palestine. (WAFA)
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Updated 15 April 2025
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‘We played for Gaza’: How Palestine’s U-20 Women’s team went from underdogs to champions

 ‘We played for Gaza’: How Palestine’s U-20 Women’s team went from underdogs to champions
  • Shock penalty shootout win over Jordan secures first U-20 West Asian Football Federation title

AMSTERDAM: When rank outsiders secure a victory they tend, often, to be of the moral variety. If victory is achieved it rarely ends up with an outsider advancing to the final match and lifting the trophy. 

On Saturday afternoon, Palestine’s U-20 Women’s team did just that. While Palestine’s senior men’s team has been punching above its weight for the past decade it has been an entirely different story for other teams in the program. 

Palestine has been absolutely abject in youth football. Since gaining admission to the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA in 1998, Palestine’s men’s and women’s teams have qualified for a single youth tournament, the U-23 Asian Cup.

The gaps have only widened for female sides as other countries in the region invested in the sector, leaving Palestine far behind neighbours Lebanon and Jordan. 

When the U-20 West Asian Football Federation Championship kicked off last week, not much was expected from Palestine. Jordan were seen as heavy favorites due to their home advantage and the absence of Lebanon, the only other side of note in the region. 

Palestine were expected to finish above Kuwait but behind Jordan and Syria in the four-team tournament. 

Preparation was anything but ideal with the team meeting only 48 hours before their first game. With football suspended throughout Palestine there was a heavy reliance on the diaspora to fill the gaps. Palestine’s squad featured players born in Sweden, Canada and the United States as well as professionals plying their trade in Chile and Egypt.

The tournament got off to the best possible start for Al-Fidai’yat, a 9-0 hammering of Kuwait set the stage, but a 3-0 loss to bitter rivals Jordan had the doubters circling the team. Many of the comments of the Palestine Football Association Facebook page were tinged with sexism while others demanded women’s football have its funding suspended. 

The nature of the loss was particularly frustrating for Palestine who showed an ability to compete with their more established rivals but were undone on a series of corner kicks and set pieces. 

Palestine emerged from Matchday 2 in good shape thanks to Syria’s narrower margin of victory against Kuwait. That result meant Palestine needed only a draw against the Qasioun Eagles to set up a rematch against Jordan in the final. 

A goalmouth scramble after an early corner kick was finished off by Narin Abu Asfar giving Palestine the lead against Syria. They looked the better side for much of the match but a late Syrian equalizer against the run of play in the 84th minute set up a grandstand finish. A series of corner kicks in the game’s dying seconds had fans fearing the worst but Palestine’s players held their nerve and saw the game out. 

A rematch against Jordan was on the cards. 

Palestine’s futility at the WAFF Championship is well documented. The senior men’s team has never advanced past the group stage of the regional tournament. The senior women’s team's greatest accomplishment was a second-place finish in 2014 in a four-team tournament in which they were battered 10-0 by champions Jordan. 

Palestine were not expected to put up much of a fight. After all, success in women’s football starts with investment, and Jordan has been the leading light in the region, punching above their weight in all age categories for both genders since the turn of the century. 

A cagey first half under the hot Aqaba sun ended scoreless, just as it did five days earlier. Manager Ahmed Hammad went to his bench and called on Selina Ghneim to change the match. 

The forward did just that, thumping home a header from Narin Abu Asfar’s corner to open the scoring. 

Jordan answered through a substitute of their own, Marah Abbas, who also scored off a corner kick. 

A penalty shootout was needed to settle the match, which ended 1-1. Typically, underdogs favor the lottery of the shootout, which increases their chances of victory considerably. There was just one problem for Palestine. Their goalkeeper Miraf Maarouf had broken her foot in warmups. 

Any doubt as to the imperious goalkeeper’s ability to perform injured and under pressure was immediately put to rest. Maarouf dove to her right and blocked Jordan’s first two attempts giving Palestine a lead in the shootout they would not relinquish. 

An embarrassing moment of confusion took place after captain Naomi Philips scored to make it 3-1 after three and a half rounds. Palestine’s players rushed on to the pitch to celebrate with Maarouf, who was imploring her teammates to clear the area because there was still a Jordanian kick to deal with. 

Jordan scored to force a fifth round of kicks but Miral Kassis did not feel the pressure. The FC Masar forward had to leave the team midway through the tournament due to club commitments. She had played in Egypt less than 24 hours before and arrived in Aqaba only on the day of the final. 

Her winning penalty came with a high dose of bravado, with the 19-year-old seeming to ask Celine Seif which side she wanted to be scored on. 

“Forget tactics and all that. We played for Gaza. We took care of organization (to correct mistakes from the first game) but the players fought to get the win,” Omar Barakat, the team’s assistant coach, told Arab News. 

Reaction from a fanbase starved of success has turned dramatically with snide and sexist comments conspicuously absent from recent comments.

“We are proud of ourselves because we play for Gaza. We play in the name of Palestine in the name of every mother that has lost her son, in the name of every martyr,” Malak Barakat told the media after the historic win. 

“My message is that this is only the start and you will be hearing more from us in the future.” 

Barakat might be right — she and several of her teammates have already made the jump to the senior team. 

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Chelsea beat Manchester United to stay on course for Champions League

Chelsea beat Manchester United to stay on course for Champions League
Updated 25 sec ago
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Chelsea beat Manchester United to stay on course for Champions League

Chelsea beat Manchester United to stay on course for Champions League

LONDON: Chelsea stayed in the hunt for a Champions League place next season with a nervy 1-0 victory over Manchester United on Friday, courtesy of a second-half goal from Marc Cucurella.
The Spain full back headed home from close range, turning in a cross from captain Reece James, who bamboozled the United defense with a twist and turn in the 71st minute.
“I knew I had space and time. I knew I put the ball in a good area, this guy was always arriving,” James told Sky Sports, standing alongside Cucurella.
James had hit the post in the first half with a stinging shot shortly after United defender Harry Maguire had the ball in the Chelsea net, only for VAR to rule it marginally offside.
United had few other chances, and Chelsea were tense but dominant for most of the match.
The result lifted Chelsea to fourth in the Premier League above Aston Villa, who earlier beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-0, with one game left in the season for both sides.
“The Champions League is where the club belongs, competing in the best competitions,” James said.

The top five in the table qualify for the Champions League, which has been Chelsea’s target since Enzo Maresca took over as coach at the start of the season.
Relieved Maresca and his bench as well players and fans celebrated wildly at the final whistle.
It was the last home game of the season for Chelsea whose form has run hot and cold under since the Italian took over, and they circled the ground with a lap of honor before leaving the pitch.

Their last game is away to Nottingham Forest, who lie seventh and are still chasing qualification, next weekend.
United, whose target after a woeful season, is winning the Europa League final against Tottenham next Wednesday, are 16th.


Villa cruise past sorry Spurs to boost Champions League push

Villa cruise past sorry Spurs to boost Champions League push
Updated 5 min 1 sec ago
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Villa cruise past sorry Spurs to boost Champions League push

Villa cruise past sorry Spurs to boost Champions League push
  • Emery’s Villa fifth in Premier League with one game left
  • Yet another defeat for Spurs, ahead of Europa League final

BIRMINGHAM: High-flying Aston Villa comfortably dispatched Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the Premier League on Friday to keep up their quest for more Champions League football and leave their wounded visitors focused on next week’s Europa League final.
With Villa dominating possession in a party atmosphere for their final home game of the season, the breakthrough came in the 59th minute when center-back Ezri Konsa whipped home after Ollie Watkins headed the ball into his path from a corner.
Midfielder Boubacar Kamara rifled home Villa’s second in the 73rd minute to end the tepid resistance of Spurs, who hope to salvage an otherwise miserable season in Bilbao next week if they can beat Manchester United to lift the Europa League.
With one fixture left, Villa are on 66 points and fifth in the Premier League — the last qualifying berth for the Champions League. Chelsea are above them on goal difference after beating Manchester United also on Friday.
Manchester City are sixth on 65 points but with two games left.
Villa goalscorer Konsa said his goal came from a corner routine the team had worked on during the week, setting them on their way for a remarkable eighth consecutive home win.
“I’m just glad that we managed to get the win on our last home game and give the fans something to cheer for,” he said.
“We knew today was a must-win. We want to play Champions League football again. We had a taste of it this season, got to the quarters. For us as players, it’s the competition that you want to play in.”
After suffering a 21st defeat in this season, Spurs sit a woeful 17th in the Premier League with 38 points, just above the bottom three already relegated sides.

Son looking fit
Plagued by injuries, Spurs coach Ange Postecoglou at least had the pleasure of seeing his captain Son Heung-min, recently back, looking unscathed for the Bilbao clash.
“He is ready and available,” Postecoglou said. It was important tonight and he feels like he is getting back to some rhythm.”
Son was involved in the Londoners’ best attacking buildups, but in truth they posed little danger. Villa enjoyed 69 percent possession and had 18 shots to Spurs’ three even without showing their usual intensity.
The home side’s Morgan Rogers nearly saw a glancing header tipped round by Spurs goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky, Marco Asensio tormented the visitors with his footwork, and the ever-dangerous Watkins saw a low shot fly just past the post.
“Very very happy,” said Villa coach Unai Emery, punching the air in joy before posing with fans for selfies after the game.
The Spaniard was enjoying his 100th league game as Villa boss, including 54 victories.
“We have to try keep being consistent like we are now, focused and demanding,” he added. “There’s still work to do, to have the chance of playing Champions League.”
Villa’s final Premier League game is away at Manchester United while Chelsea go to Nottingham Forest.
Manchester City face Bournemouth at home then Fulham away.
Spurs’ under-fire boss Postecoglou praised his team’s endeavour at Villa Park but said ultimately they ran out of steam.
Now winless in six Premier League games, Spurs’ best effort came when winger Wilson Odobert’s backheel almost deceived Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez before he recovered to make the save.
“Up until they scored, the boys worked hard, we didn’t let them create too many openings, we had our moments too,” Potecoglou said.
“Once they scored, I think we lost belief and we were fatiguing, then the game just got away with us.”


Vegas clings to PGA lead as Kim, Scheffler charge

Vegas clings to PGA lead as Kim, Scheffler charge
Updated 17 May 2025
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Vegas clings to PGA lead as Kim, Scheffler charge

Vegas clings to PGA lead as Kim, Scheffler charge
  • Vegas closed with a double bogey to fire a one-under-par 70

CHARLOTTE: Jhonattan Vegas, chasing his first major title, clung to a two-stroke lead in Friday’s second round of the PGA Championship while top-ranked Scottie Scheffler and South Korean Kim Si-woo made late charges at Quail Hollow.
Vegas closed with a double bogey to fire a one-under-par 70 and stand on eight-under 134 after 36 holes with France’s Matthieu Pavon shooting 65 to share second with England’s Matt Fitzpatrick and Kim on 136.
“It was a great day,” Vegas said. “I can’t really get too down on myself for making double on 18. I feel like I managed my game really well. I was feeling it out there. It was nice to keep the momentum. The game was there and the feeling was good.
“I wasn’t happy to finish with that double on 18 but we have two more days to go.”
Kim aced the par-three sixth hole from 252 yards with a five-wood, hitting the longest hole-in-one in major history, and added six birdies against a lone bogey to equal Max Homa for the day’s low round of 64.
“It was exciting,” Kim said of the ace. “I hit it like exactly how I wanted. So it was cool and it was pretty memorable hole-in-one in major.”
Sharing fifth in the clubhouse were Americans Homa and Scheffler, who shot 68 to stand on 137 — three off the lead.
“A little below average for me,” Scheffler said. “I felt like I did a good job scoring. I was able to hit the right shots when I need to.”
Scheffler’s playing partners in the feature group — second-ranked Masters winner Rory McIlroy and third-ranked defending champion Xander Schauffele — grinded through the final hole just to make the cut on the number at one-over 143.
McIlroy, who completed a career Grand Slam with his Masters win, closed bogey-bogey to flirt with missing the weekend, lipping out from three feet for par at 17 and hitting off a hospitality tent roof into rough at 18 and two-putting for bogey from 36 feet to shoot 69.
Closing par putts at 17 and 18 from inside four feet gave Schauffele a 71.
Vegas, who fired a 64 on Thursday, never lost the lead despite pressure while Pavon and Homa each delivered their career-low major rounds.
“That was really very solid,” Pavon said. “Got a nice momentum with the putter early on. A few birdies on the front nine helped me to be more confident on the back nine. Overall it was a super satisfying day.”
Homa shot 30 on the same back nine where he fired 39 on Thursday.
“I knew the game was good,” Homa said. “Didn’t know I was going to shoot seven-under but I’ll take it.”
Fitzpatrick, the 2022 US Open champion, fired a 68 and will draw upon his major win to try and pad his trophy haul.
“The fact I’ve done it before, that’s always a big confidence boost,” he said. “You can lean on that. I’m just happy to be in this position.”
World number 70 Vegas was set to become the lowest-ranked player to lead a major outright after each of the first two rounds since American Gil Morgan at the 1992 US Open.
Vegas was battling after a sleepless night sitting on the lead.
“Not getting a great sleep and having to come back early put me not in the best mood all day,” Vegas said. “It felt like three hours, but I probably got a little bit more than that. I got some sleep but it wasn’t the best.”
American Jordan Spieth, needing a win the complete a career Grand Slam, missed the cut on 144.
Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, whose 19 made major cuts were the longest active streak, and two-time major winner Justin Thomas were out on 145.


Salah slams ‘harsh’ Liverpool fans for jeering Alexander-Arnold

Salah slams ‘harsh’ Liverpool fans for jeering Alexander-Arnold
Updated 16 May 2025
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Salah slams ‘harsh’ Liverpool fans for jeering Alexander-Arnold

Salah slams ‘harsh’ Liverpool fans for jeering Alexander-Arnold
  • Salah said on Friday that he was saddened by the taunts aimed at Alexander-Arnold
  • “I think he didn’t deserve it at the time, he deserved the fans to treat him the best way possible“

LONDON: Mohamed Salah has slammed “harsh” Liverpool fans for booing Trent Alexander-Arnold in his first appearance after announcing he will leave the Premier League champions at the end of the season.

Alexander-Arnold is widely expected to join Real Madrid once his contract expires in June.

The England right-back, who revealed his decision to quit his boyhood club last week, was jeered by Liverpool supporters when he came on as a second-half substitute in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield.

Salah said on Friday that he was saddened by the taunts aimed at Alexander-Arnold, who has two games left as a Liverpool player against Brighton on Monday and Crystal Palace on May 25.

“Absolutely. I was surprised because this is not how we act as Liverpool fans,” the Egypt forward told Gary Neville in a Sky Sports interview.


“I think somehow the fans were being harsh with him. I think he didn’t deserve it at the time, he deserved the fans to treat him the best way possible because he gave it all to the fans.”

Salah was also involved in a prolonged contract saga this season, but eventually committed his future to the Reds by signing a new two-year deal.

Calling for Liverpool fans to give Alexander-Arnold a more respectful farewell in his last two games, Salah said: “Imagine someone who gives you his all for 20 years. It’s shouldn’t be like this.

“I hope that will change next game, against Brighton or in the last game of the season, because he deserves the farewell.”

Liverpool-born Alexander-Arnold, who made his first-team debut in 2016, has made 353 senior appearances for Liverpool in all competitions, scoring 23 goals.

The 26-year-old has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup and the League Cup with the Reds.

Salah admitted it will be emotional to say goodbye to one of his close friends when the season ends.

“I told him yesterday don’t give me eye contact in your farewell. I really love him. I think he deserves the best farewell leaving the club,” he said.

“He has done a lot for the city and done a lot for the club and he’s one of probably the best players in the club’s history. He gave it all.

“I think he needed a new challenge. He spoke to me about it. It’s his decision for sure. He’s 25, 26 years old and won it all twice or three times. What more can he have done?“


Coach Chaabani wishes Berkane were not CAF Cup final favorites

Coach Chaabani wishes Berkane were not CAF Cup final favorites
Updated 16 May 2025
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Coach Chaabani wishes Berkane were not CAF Cup final favorites

Coach Chaabani wishes Berkane were not CAF Cup final favorites
  • “There are no winners in football before matches are played,” the 43-year-old Tunisian told reporters
  • “Simba have a proud history in this competition and are deserving finalists”

JOHANNESBURG: Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane are expected to beat Tanzanian rivals Simba in the two-leg CAF Confederation Cup final, but coach Mouin Chaabani wishes they were not the favorites.

“There are no winners in football before matches are played,” the 43-year-old Tunisian told reporters ahead of the first leg in Berkane on Saturday.

“Simba have a proud history in this competition and are deserving finalists. They have earned the right to compete for the title.

“However, provided we put in the effort and prepare properly, there is no reason why we cannot bring the trophy to Morocco.”

Chaabani, who won seven trophies as coach of Esperance in his homeland, is seeking a treble with Berkane in this campaign.

The Orange Boys have already won the Moroccan league for the first time since being formed in 1938, have reached the last 16 in the national cup, and are seeking African glory.

Berkane are appearing in a fifth Confederation Cup final in seven seasons. They triumphed in 2020 and 2022 and were runners-up in 2019 and 2024.

The club from the citrus producing east of Morocco have a remarkable home record in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europe League with 42 victories, six draws and no losses.

Berkane did not concede in six home games en route to the final while putting five goals past Dadje of Benin and Stellenbosch of South Africa and four past CS Constantine of Algeria.

They won 10 of 12 matches, drew one and suffered their only loss away to Constantine in a semifinal second leg having built a four-goal advantage at home.

Oussama Lamlioui is their leading scorer in the African campaign with five goals and two west Africans — Paul Bassene from Senegal and Issoufou Dayo from Burkina Faso — have four each.

South Africa-born Simba coach Fadlu Davids attributes the incredible home record of Berkane partly to their ground, the 15,000-seat Municipal Stadium.

“It is a small stadium, but a very intimidating one. The supporters are very close to the pitch,” he told reporters.

“I accept that we will have to do a lot of defending and have prepared thoroughly for such a situation.”

Simba left Tanzania on Monday in a charter jet organized by the state president, Samia Suluhu Hassan.

“Heartiest congratulations to Simba,” she said, referring to the Dar es Salaam club reaching the Confederation Cup final for the first time.

“You have brought great honor to our country and I wish you all the best. You have my full support.”

While the majority of the Berkane starters are likely to be Moroccans, Simba will field a multi-national line-up.

Goalkeeper Moussa Camara is Guinean, center-back Chamou Karaboue and star forward Jean Charles Ahoua come from the Ivory Coast and winger Elie Mpanzu is Congolese.

Among the Tanzanians, winger Denis Kibu is the leading Simba scorer in Africa this season with four goals and his pace and ball control could trouble Berkane.

The return match is set for the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on May 25 and the aggregate winners will be two million dollars richer.