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Lebanon women's national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Lebanon national football team.
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Lebanon
Nickname(s) صبايا الأرز
(The Lady Cedars)
Association Lebanon Football Association
(الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم)
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation WAFF (West Asia)
Head coach Wael Gharzeddine
Captain Nathalie Matar
Most caps Rana Al Mokdad (29)
Top scorer Lili Iskandar (12)
FIFA code LBN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current NR (7 December 2018)
Highest 102 (December 2013)
Lowest 145 (April – August 2021)
First international
Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon 0–12 Algeria 
(Alexandria, Egypt; 19 April 2006)
Biggest win
Flag of Lebanon.svg Lebanon 12–1 Kuwait 
(Amman, Jordan; 9 June 2013)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Greece.svg Greece 14–0 Lebanon 
(Pegeia, Cyprus; 12 March 2015)
Arab Women's Cup
Appearances 2 (first in 2006)
Best result Group stage (2006, 2021)
WAFF Women's Championship
Appearances 5 (first in 2007)
Best result Runners-up (2022)
Medal record
Women's football
WAFF Women's Championship
Silver 2022 Jordan
Bronze 2007 Jordan
Bronze 2019 Bahrain

The Lebanon women's national football team is the official women's national football team of the country of Lebanon. The team was established in 2005, and is controlled by the Lebanon Football Association (LFA), the governing body for football in Lebanon. Whilst the team has yet to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup or the AFC Women's Asian Cup, they have finished runners-up at the 2022 edition of the WAFF Women's Championship, and in third place at the 2007 and 2019 editions.

Lebanon played their first match in 2006 against Algeria in a 12–0 defeat at the Arab Women's Championship. However, their first qualification campaign took place eight years later, on the occasion of the 2014 Women's Asian Cup. While Lebanon ultimately failed to qualify for the final tournament, they won 12–1 against Kuwait on 9 June 2013 in their biggest win to date.

Colloquially called "the Lady Cedars" (Arabic: صبايا الأرز), their home kit is predominately red and their away kit white, in reference to their national flag. From 2014 Lebanon's FIFA ranking has been relatively steady, with their best ranking being 102nd in December 2013 and their worst being 145th between April and August 2021.

History

2005–2018: Formation and first tournaments

Known as "the Lady Cedars" (Arabic: صبايا الأرز), the Lebanon women's national team was formed in 2005 as one of the earliest women's national teams in the West Asian Football Federation. Their first match was a 12–0 defeat against Algeria at the 2006 Arab Women's Championship. They finished in last place after three games without having scored a single goal.

Their first WAFF Women's Championship campaign was in 2007; after two 3–0 losses, first against Jordan and then against Iran, Lebanon beat Syria 7–0 thanks to an Iman Chaito hat-trick, and finished in third place in the tournament. In their second WAFF Women's Championship in 2011 they were drawn with Iran, Syria and hosts the United Arab Emirates (UAE). After losing their first match against Iran 8–1, Lebanon won 1–0 against Syria. In their final match, against the UAE, Lebanon lost 5–0 and were knocked out of the competition.

Managed by Farid Nujaim, Lebanon took part in the qualification campaign for the 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup. This was their first official qualification tournament, eight years from their inception. They were drawn with Jordan, Uzbekistan and Kuwait in their group. In their first match, they lost 5–0 against Jordan before being defeated by Uzbekistan 4–0. Already eliminated, Lebanon beat Kuwait 12–1 in a consolatory victory, ending their qualifying campaign with three points.

Lebanon were drawn with Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Guam and Palestine in the 2018 Asian Cup qualification, to be played in the West Bank in Palestine. However, Lebanon withdrew as they refused to play on the grounds that "it legitimises Israel's occupation of the territory".

2019–present: Recent history

Lebanon Women 2019 WAFF
Lebanon during the 2019 WAFF Women's Championship third-place award ceremony

Coached by Wael Gharzeddine, Lebanon competed in the 2019 WAFF Women's Championship in January. They began their campaign with a slim 3–2 defeat to hosts Bahrain. In their second match, Lebanon's late goals in each half secured a 2–0 win over the UAE. They then suffered a 3–1 defeat to Jordan, before beating Palestine 3–0, finishing in third place.

In the 2021 Arab Women's Cup, played in August, Lebanon were drawn with Egypt, Tunisia and Sudan. Following a 0–0 to Tunisia, Lebanon's first-ever draw, they lost 4–0 to hosts Egypt. In their final group stage game, Lebanon beat Sudan 5–1, and finished third in their group with four points.

The team began the qualifiers for the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup in October 2021, losing 4–0 to Myanmar; a 1–0 win against the UAE, and a 3–0 win against Guam were not enough to qualify them to their first-ever Asian Cup, as Lebanon finished in second place and were eliminated.

Between August and September 2022, Lebanon took part in the 2022 WAFF Women's Championship in Jordan under coach Hagop Demirjian. After winning 3–0 against Palestine, Lebanon lost to hosts Jordan 2–1 before winning the last game against Syria 5–2. They finished runners-up in the WAFF Championship for the first time, with Lebanon's Lili Iskandar being voted best player of the tournament.

Results and fixtures

Main article: Lebanon women's national football team results

As of 27 February 2024, the complete official match record of the Lebanese women's national team comprises 59 matches: 24 wins, 3 draws, and 32 losses. During these matches, the team scored 104 times and conceded 168 goals. Lebanon's highest winning margin is 11 goals, which has been achieved against Kuwait in 2013 (12–1). Their longest winning streak is 5 wins, and their highest unbeaten record is 11 consecutive official matches.

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

Legend

      Win       Draw       Loss       Fixture

2023

2024

Players

Main article: List of Lebanon women's international footballers
See also: Category:Lebanon women's international footballers

Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2024 WAFF Women's Championship.

Information correct as of 29 February 2024, after the game against Nepal
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Lamitta El Dib (2005-09-02) 2 September 2005 (age 19) 14 0 Lebanon EFP
21 1GK Clara Khalil (2004-05-28) 28 May 2004 (age 20) 2 0 Lebanon Helium
23 1GK Marcelle Skaiki (2007-02-01) 1 February 2007 (age 17) 0 0 Lebanon Super Girls
2 2DF Julie Atallah (2005-07-28) 28 July 2005 (age 19) 13 0 Lebanon SAS
3 2DF Karly Harfouche (2004-08-03) 3 August 2004 (age 20) 5 0 Lebanon SAS
4 2DF Amina Karime (2005-12-20) 20 December 2005 (age 18) 17 0 Lebanon BFA
5 2DF Waed Raed (2006-11-09) 9 November 2006 (age 18) 21 1 Lebanon SAS
6 2DF Ayana Rezkalla (2008-04-21) 21 April 2008 (age 16) 2 0 Lebanon EFP
8 2DF Rana Al Mokdad (1998-11-18) 18 November 1998 (age 26) 29 1 Lebanon SAS
13 2DF Lara Bou Hamra (2004-02-16) 16 February 2004 (age 20) 8 0 Lebanon BFA
15 2DF Dima Al Kasti (2001-12-13) 13 December 2001 (age 22) 23 4 Lebanon SAS
12 3MF Nathalie Matar (captain) (1995-09-20) 20 September 1995 (age 29) 26 0 France USPSO
16 3MF Stephanie El Kazzi (2004-09-29) 29 September 2004 (age 20) 11 0 Lebanon EFP
17 3MF Cecile Iskandar (2007-03-12) 12 March 2007 (age 17) 6 1 Lebanon SAS
19 3MF Yara Bou Rada (2000-08-07) 7 August 2000 (age 24) 26 2 Lebanon EFP
20 3MF Christina Tikle (2004-08-31) 31 August 2004 (age 20) 4 0 Lebanon BFA
22 3MF Zahwa Arabi (2005-11-02) 2 November 2005 (age 19) 19 2 Lebanon EFP
7 4FW Samira Awad (2000-06-30) 30 June 2000 (age 24) 27 5 Lebanon SAS
9 3MF Syntia Salha (2003-01-12) 12 January 2003 (age 21) 26 7 Lebanon BFA
10 4FW Lili Iskandar (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 22) 24 12 Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad
11 4FW Angelina Saade (2006-06-23) 23 June 2006 (age 18) 5 0 Lebanon BFA
14 4FW Christy Maalouf (2005-12-20) 20 December 2005 (age 18) 21 10 France Paris FC 2
18 4FW Hanin Tamim (2000-04-05) 5 April 2000 (age 24) 21 8 Lebanon SAS

Recent call-ups

The following footballers were part of a national selection in the past 12 months, but are not part of the current squad.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Sinal Breiche (2003-03-03) 3 March 2003 (age 21) 10 0 Lebanon BFA 2023 SAFF Tournament
GK Selena Malaeb (2005-05-26) 26 May 2005 (age 19) 1 0 Lebanon Akhaa Ahli Aley 2023 SAFF Tournament
GK Racha Yaghi (2002-06-10) 10 June 2002 (age 22) 17 0 Lebanon SAS v. Flag of Palestine.svg [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]], 21 July 2023
DF Tia Rita Daher (2006-02-16) 16 February 2006 (age 18) 2 0 Lebanon SAS v. Flag of Syria.svg Syria, 15 February 2024
DF Clara El Najjar (2004-12-19) 19 December 2004 (age 19) 2 0 Lebanon No Limits v. Flag of Syria.svg Syria, 15 February 2024
DF Tala Abi Akl (2006-01-13) 13 January 2006 (age 18) 1 0 Lebanon EFP v. Flag of Syria.svg Syria, 15 February 2024
DF Celine Al Haddad (2001-03-12) 12 March 2001 (age 23) 17 0 Lebanon SAS 2023 SAFF Tournament
MF Lama Abdin (2006-09-09) 9 September 2006 (age 18) 7 0 Lebanon BFA v. Flag of Syria.svg Syria, 15 February 2024
MF Marie-Therese Tikli (2003-05-29) 29 May 2003 (age 21) 2 0 Lebanon BFA v. Flag of Syria.svg Syria, 15 February 2024
MF Celine Bitar (2007-07-17) 17 July 2007 (age 17) 0 0 Lebanon SAS v. Flag of Syria.svg Syria, 15 February 2024
MF Yasmine Hamdar (2007-07-24) 24 July 2007 (age 17) 2 0 Lebanon ÓBerytus 2023 SAFF Tournament
MF Paula Karam (2007-09-20) 20 September 2007 (age 17) 1 0 Lebanon Helium 2023 SAFF Tournament
MF Sophie Fayad (2004-12-08) 8 December 2004 (age 19) 8 2 Lebanon EFP v. Flag of Palestine.svg [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]], 21 July 2023
MF Maria Mansour (2003-06-23) 23 June 2003 (age 21) 3 0 Lebanon EFP v. Flag of Palestine.svg [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]], 21 July 2023
FW Leah El Hajj Ali (2008-06-04) 4 June 2008 (age 16) 2 0 Lebanon BFA v. Flag of Syria.svg Syria, 15 February 2024
FW Pilar Khoury (1994-08-25) 25 August 1994 (age 30) 8 3 France Strasbourg [fr] 2023 SAFF Tournament
FW Serena Mansour (2006-07-04) 4 July 2006 (age 18) 2 0 Lebanon EFP 2023 SAFF Tournament
FW Lea Hachem (2006-08-25) 25 August 2006 (age 18) 1 0 Lebanon SAS 2023 SAFF Tournament
FW Hiba Allouch (2004-06-28) 28 June 2004 (age 20) 10 1 Lebanon FC Beirut v. Flag of Palestine.svg [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]], 21 July 2023

Individual records

Players in bold are still active with Lebanon.

Most-capped players

2020 SAS vs Safa (friendly) 07 (Rana Mokdad)
Rana Al Mokdad is Lebanon's most-capped player with 29 appearances.
Rank Player Caps Goals Period
1 Rana Al Mokdad 29 1 2017–present
2 Samira Awad 27 5 2018–present
3 Nathalie Matar 26 0 2015–present
Yara Bou Rada 26 2 2018–present
Syntia Salha 26 7 2021–present
6 Lili Iskandar 24 12 2018–present
7 Dima Al Kasti 23 4 2019–present
8 Taghrid Hamadeh 22 2 2006–2015
Sara Bakri 22 7 2006–2017
10 Hanin Tamim 21 8 2018–present
Christy Maalouf 21 10 2021–present
Waed Raed 21 1 2021–present

Top scorers

2020 SAS vs Safa (friendly) 07 (Lili Iskandar)
With 12 goals, Lili Iskandar is Lebanon's all-time top goalscorer.
Rank Player Goals Caps Average Period
1 Lili Iskandar 12 24 0.5 2018–present
2 Christy Maalouf 10 21 0.48 2021–present
3 Hanin Tamim 8 21 0.38 2018–present
4 Sara Bakri 7 22 0.32 2006–2017
Syntia Salha 7 26 0.27 2021–present
6 Nadia Assaf 5 7 0.71 2007–2013
Samira Awad 5 27 0.19 2018–present
8 Dima Al Kasti 4 23 0.17 2019–present
9 Iman Chaito 3 3 1 2007
Pilar Khoury 3 8 0.38 2021–present
Hiba El Jaafil 3 14 0.21 2006–2013
Lara Bahlawan 3 17 0.18 2011–2021

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup record Qualification record
Host nation(s)
and year		 Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Outcome Pld W D L GF GA
China 1991 Did not enter Did not enter
Sweden 1995
United States 1999
United States 2003
China 2007
Germany 2011
Canada 2015 Did not qualify The 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup served as the qualifying tournament
France 2019 Withdrew Withdrew
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 Did not qualify The 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup served as the qualifying tournament
2027 To be determined The 2026 AFC Women's Asian Cup will serve as the qualifying tournament
Total – 0/9 – – – – – – – Total – – – – – –

Summer Olympics

Summer Olympics record Qualification record
Host nation(s)
and year		 Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Outcome Pld W D L GF GA
United States 1996 Did not enter The 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup served as the qualifying tournament
Australia 2000 The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup served as the qualifying tournament
Greece 2004 Did not enter
China 2008
United Kingdom 2012
Brazil 2016
Japan 2020 Did not qualify 3rd of 3 2 0 0 2 0 12
France 2024 2nd of 3 2 1 0 1 6 5
United States 2028 To be determined To be determined
Total – 0/8 – – – – – – – Total 4 1 0 3 6 17

AFC Women's Asian Cup

AFC Women's Asian Cup record Qualification record
Host nation(s)
and year		 Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad Outcome Pld W D L GF GA
Hong Kong 1975 Did not enter Did not enter
Taiwan 1977
India 1980
Hong Kong 1981
Thailand 1983
Hong Kong 1986
Hong Kong 1989
Japan 1991
Malaysia 1993
Malaysia 1995
China 1997
Philippines 1999
Chinese Taipei 2001
Thailand 2003
Australia 2006
Vietnam 2008
China 2010
Vietnam 2014 Did not qualify 3rd of 4 3 1 0 2 12 10
Jordan 2018 Withdrew Withdrew
India 2022 Did not qualify 2nd of 4 3 2 0 1 4 4
2026 To be determined To be determined
Total – 0/20 – – – – – – – Total 6 3 0 3 16 14

Arab Women's Cup

Arab Women's Cup record
Host nation(s)
and year		 Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad
Egypt 2006 Group stage 7th of 7 2 0 0 2 0 20 Squad
Egypt 2021 Group stage 5th of 7 3 1 1 1 5 5 Squad
Total Best: group stage 2/2 5 1 1 3 5 25 –

WAFF Women's Championship

WAFF Women's Championship record
Host nation(s)
and year		 Round Pos Pld W D L GF GA Squad
Jordan 2005 Did not enter
Jordan 2007 Third place 3rd of 4 3 1 0 2 7 6 –
United Arab Emirates 2010 Did not enter
United Arab Emirates 2011 Group stage 5th of 8 3 1 0 2 2 13 –
Jordan 2014 Did not enter
Bahrain 2019 Third place 3rd of 5 4 2 0 2 8 6 Squad
Jordan 2022 Runners-up 2nd of 4 3 2 0 1 9 4 Squad
Saudi Arabia 2024 Semi-finals 3rd of 8 4 2 0 2 6 8 Squad
Total Best: runners-up 5/8 17 8 0 9 32 37 –

Other tournaments

Tournament Round
Egypt 2010 Arabia Women's Cup Group stage
Armenia 2021 Armenia Friendly Tournament Fourth place
Saudi Arabia 2023 SAFF Friendly Tournament Champions

FIFA world rankings

Lebanon were first included in the FIFA World Ranking in September 2011, placing in 124th place. Until early 2021, FIFA's ranking criteria required teams to have been active in the previous 18 months to be listed. As Lebanon went inactive for 18 months for several periods, they were unranked in various years (2014, 2016, 2017, 2020). Lebanon's best ranking was 102nd in December 2013, and their worst was 145th between April and August 2021.

The table shows the position that Lebanon held in December of each year (and the current position as of 2023), as well as the highest and lowest positions annually.

     Best ranking       Worst ranking  

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección femenina de fútbol del Líbano para niños

  • List of women's national association football teams
  • Lebanon women's national under-20 football team
  • Lebanon women's national under-17 football team
  • Lebanese Women's Football League
  • Women's football in Lebanon
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