Dominant Performance in Abidjan
Pakistan’s women’s national football team announced their arrival on the international stage with a stunning 8-0 victory over the Turks and Caicos Islands in the FIFA Series on Thursday. The match, played at the Stade Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, saw Pakistan surpass their previous best win—a 7-0 triumph against the Maldives in September 2022—in spectacular fashion.
First-Half Onslaught Sets the Tone
Under coach Adeel Rizki, Pakistan displayed attacking intent from the opening whistle. The scoring began in the 10th minute when Zahmena Malik found the back of the net. What followed was a first-half masterclass:
- Aqsa Mushtaq doubled the lead just two minutes later.
- Midfielder Layla Banaras made it 3-0 with a weaving run and finish past the half-hour mark.
- Mariam Mahmood, fresh from winning the Welsh league title with Wrexham Women, volleyed home a cross in the 38th minute.
Four different scorers in the opening 45 minutes demonstrated the team’s diverse attacking threat and completely overwhelmed their opponents.
Second-Half Continuation and Record Broken
Pakistan maintained their intensity after the break. Nadia Khan headed in a perfect cross in the 56th minute to make it 5-0. Aqsa Mushtaq then scored her second with a spectacular strike in the 76th minute, followed by Layla Banaras netting another from outside the box. Isra Khan completed the historic rout in the 81st minute, sealing the 8-0 result and etching the team’s name in the record books.
Leadership Hails “New Era”
Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) President Mohsen Gilani celebrated the landmark achievement. “I congratulate the players and the coaching staff for creating history,” he stated. “This is the start of a new era for women’s football in Pakistan and I hope the team continues in the same vein in the FIFA Series.”
The victory provides massive momentum for Pakistan as they continue their campaign in the tournament, signaling a potential turning point for the sport’s development in the country.
