AFZAL JAVED
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Women’s Football Team made a sensational start to the FIFA Series, thrashing Turks and Caicos Islands 8-0 to register the biggest win in their history.
The match, played at Stade Alassane Ouattara, saw Pakistan dominate from the outset. Four different players found the net in the first half — Zahmena Malik, Aqsa Mushtaq, Layla Banaras and Mariam Mahmood — to put the team firmly in control.
Pakistan opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Zahmena Malik calmly finished to give her side the lead. Just two minutes later, Aqsa Mushtaq doubled the advantage, slotting home after a rebound. Layla Banaras made it 3-0 in the 31st minute with a brilliant solo run and composed finish, before Mariam Mahmood added the fourth in the 38th minute with a superb volley at the back post.
The attacking dominance continued in the second half as Nadia Khan scored in the 56th minute with a well-placed header. Aqsa Mushtaq netted her second goal in the 76th minute with a stunning strike, while Layla Banaras also completed her brace with a fine effort from outside the box. Isra Khan wrapped up the historic win in the 81st minute, sealing an emphatic 8-0 victory.
The win surpasses Pakistan’s previous best result — a 7-0 victory over Maldives in 2022 — marking a historic moment and a powerful statement on the international stage.
Meanwhile Syed Mohsen Gillani, President of the Pakistan Football Federation, has congratulated the nation on the Pakistan women’s team’s record-breaking victory in their opening match of the FIFA Series, dedicating the achievement to the country’s leadership.
In his message, Gillani praised the team’s outstanding performance and termed the victory a historic milestone for women’s football in Pakistan.
“At a time when our Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir are playing a historic role for peace, our girls have created history on the football field,” he said. “We dedicate this victory to our leadership for their commitment and vision.”
He further expressed confidence in the future of the sport, stating that Pakistan’s women footballers are making the nation proud on the international stage.
“The golden era for Pakistan women’s football is dawning, and our players are proving to the world that they have the talent and determination to excel,” he added.
