Afghan and American Female Footballers Hold Friendly Match at U.S. Embassy (February 11, 2016)

Afghan and American Female Footballers Hold Friendly Match at U.S. Embassy

February 11, 2016

The Afghan Football Federation women’s footballers joined forces with the U.S. Embassy to celebrate the U.S. National Girls and Women in Sports Day on February 3, 2016.  The day started with a video conference session with retired U.S. National Women’s Soccer Team member and two-time Olympian Lorrie Fair, followed by a sports conditioning program with women from the Afghan team and the American squad.  The women exchanged strategies and methods for overcoming challenges for female athletes.  The Deputy Chief of Mission, David Lindwall, then opened the friendly soccer match by saying, “The courage, strength, and character gained through physical activity are the very tools girls need to become the strong leaders of tomorrow.”  Once the coin was flipped, a strong competition followed between the two teams. Hundreds of fans from the Embassy community came to cheer on the teams and acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of girls and women in sports.  The Americans have a lot to learn from their Afghan sisters, as the Afghan women beat the American women 9-0.