Hijabi footballers challenge norms in Nigeria

In Kwara state, central Nigeria, a group of Muslim girls is defying local norms by playing football while maintaining modest dress. Seventeen-year-old Maryam Muhammed trains in a hijab and leggings despite heat and taunts from some community members; she says covering is essential to her faith even when it’s uncomfortable. Her mother, Kehinde, supports her, sewing hijabs to match team jerseys and defending her choice amid criticism.

Coach Muyhideen Abdulwahab of the Model Queens Football Academy conducts outreach to parents to explain that modest dress is permitted under football regulations, but resistance persists in parts of the community. The team’s players juggle sport with economic pressures: 19-year-old Bashirat Omotosho often misses training to help her mother sell puff‑puff at a roadside stall. Her mother initially questioned why a girl would choose football, but relented after her husband’s support and inspiration from successful Nigerian players.

FIFA’s reversal of a previous ban—first relaxed in 2012 and fully permitted in 2014—opened the door for hijab‑wearing players in international competition; Nouhaila Benzina of Morocco later became the first to wear a hijab at a senior women’s tournament. Still, cultural and religious barriers remain stronger in northern and central Nigeria than in the south, where clubs based in Lagos and Port Harcourt benefit from better infrastructure and broader community backing.

The Model Queens reached a youth tournament final at the end of August, where Muhammed captained the side. Despite losing, the team celebrated together at the whistle; later, alone, Muhammed processed the defeat in private. Family support and personal faith sustain players like her, who describe football as a passion and a dream they are determined to pursue.

Across Nigeria, women’s football is growing. The Nigeria Women’s Football League remains among Africa’s most competitive, and the national team—the Super Falcons—continues to inspire interest. Increased sponsorship and grassroots programmes are expanding opportunities, and audience figures show tangible growth: iTelemedia reports a 40% rise in NWFL viewership since 2020 and a 35% increase in match attendance in 2024. That momentum is helping players in conservative regions press forward, negotiating religious expectations, family duties and economic realities to claim a place in the game.