Nickname(s) | صبايا الأرز (The Lady Cedars) | ||||||||||||||||
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Association | Lebanon Football Association (الاتحاد اللبناني لكرة القدم) | ||||||||||||||||
Confederation | AFC (Asia) | ||||||||||||||||
Sub-confederation | WAFF (West Asia) | ||||||||||||||||
Head coach | Hagop Demirjian | ||||||||||||||||
Captain | Nathalie Matar | ||||||||||||||||
Most caps | Sara Bakri Taghrid Hamadeh (22) | ||||||||||||||||
Top scorer | Sara Bakri (7) | ||||||||||||||||
Home stadium | Various | ||||||||||||||||
FIFA code | LBN | ||||||||||||||||
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FIFA ranking | |||||||||||||||||
Current | 142 ![]() | ||||||||||||||||
Highest | 92 (December 2009) | ||||||||||||||||
Lowest | 148 (September 2018) | ||||||||||||||||
First international | |||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Alexandria, Egypt; 19 April 2006) | |||||||||||||||||
Biggest win | |||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (Amman, Jordan; 9 June 2013) | |||||||||||||||||
Biggest defeat | |||||||||||||||||
![]() ![]() (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 | 4 (first in 2007) | ||||||||||||||||
Best result | Runners-up (2022) | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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The Lebanon women's national football team[lower-alpha 1] 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 2006 Lebanon's FIFA ranking has been relatively steady, with their best ranking being 92nd in December 2009 and their worst being 148th in September 2018.
Known as "the Lady Cedars" (Arabic: صبايا الأرز),[2][3] 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.[4] 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.[5]
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,[6] and finished in third place in the tournament.[7] In their second WAFF Women's Championship in 2011 they were drawn with Iran, Syria and hosts the United Arab Emirates (UAE).[8][9] 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.[9]
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.[10] They were drawn with Jordan, Uzbekistan and Kuwait in their group.[11] 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,[12] ending their qualifying campaign with three points.[11]
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.[13] However, Lebanon withdrew as they refused to play on the grounds that "it legitimises Israel's occupation of the territory".[13]
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.[14] In their second match, Lebanon's late goals in each half secured a 2–0 win over the UAE.[15] They then suffered a 3–1 defeat to Jordan,[16] before beating Palestine 3–0, finishing in third place.[2]
In the 2021 Arab Women's Cup, played in August, Lebanon were drawn with Egypt, Tunisia and Sudan.[17] Following a 0–0 to Tunisia,[18] Lebanon's first-ever draw,[19] they lost 4–0 to hosts Egypt.[20] In their final group stage game, Lebanon beat Sudan 5–1, and finished third in their group with four points.[21]
The team began the qualifiers for the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup in October 2021, losing 4–0 to Myanmar;[22] a 1–0 win against the UAE,[23] 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.[24]
Between August and September 2022, Lebanon took part in the 2022 WAFF Women's Championship in Jordan under coach Hagop Demirjian.[25] 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.[26]
The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
Win Draw Loss Fixture
18 October 2021 2022 Asian Cup qualification | Myanmar ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan |
12:00 UTC+6 |
|
Report | Stadium: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Wang Chieh (Chinese Taipei) |
21 October 2021 2022 Asian Cup qualification | Lebanon ![]() | 1–0 | ![]() | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan |
12:00 UTC+6 |
|
Report | Stadium: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Park Se-jin (South Korea) |
24 October 2021 2022 Asian Cup qualification | Guam ![]() | 0–3 | ![]() | Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan |
17:00 UTC+6 | Report | Stadium: Dolen Omurzakov Stadium Attendance: 0 Referee: Wang Chieh (Chinese Taipei) |
12 August 2022 Friendly | Lebanon ![]() | 1–1 | ![]() | Bhamdoun, Lebanon |
16:00 UTC+3 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Amin AbdelNour Stadium Referee: Doumouh Al Bakkar (Lebanon) |
14 August 2022 Friendly | Lebanon ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() | Bhamdoun, Lebanon |
11:00 UTC+3 |
|
Report |
|
Stadium: Amin AbdelNour Stadium Referee: Doumouh Al Bakkar (Lebanon) |
29 August 2022 2022 WAFF Championship | Palestine ![]() | 0–3 | ![]() | Amman, Jordan |
17:00 UTC+3 | Report | Stadium: Petra Stadium Referee: Alesar Baddour (Syria) |
1 September 2022 2022 WAFF Championship | Lebanon ![]() | 1–2 | ![]() | Amman, Jordan |
21:00 UTC+3 |
|
Report |
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Stadium: Petra Stadium Attendance: 498 Referee: Muath Owfi (Palestine) |
4 September 2022 2022 WAFF Championship | Lebanon ![]() | 5–2 | ![]() | Amman, Jordan |
17:00 UTC+3 | Report |
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Stadium: Petra Stadium Attendance: 100 Referee: Esra'a Al Mbaidin (Jordan) |
The following 23 players were called up for the 2022 WAFF Women's Championship.[25]
No. | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1GK | Racha Yaghi | (2002-06-10) 10 June 2002 (age 20) | 13 | 0 | ![]() |
22 | 1GK | Sinal Breiche | (2003-03-03) 3 March 2003 (age 19) | 7 | 0 | ![]() |
23 | 1GK | Lamitta El Dib | (2005-09-02) 2 September 2005 (age 17) | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
2 | 2DF | Amina Karime | (2005-12-20) 20 December 2005 (age 16) | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
3 | 2DF | Celine Al Haddad | (2001-03-12) 12 March 2001 (age 21) | 11 | 0 | ![]() |
4 | 2DF | Julie Atallah | (2005-07-28) 28 July 2005 (age 17) | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
9 | 2DF | Rana Al Mokdad | (1998-11-18) 18 November 1998 (age 23) | 15 | 1 | ![]() |
12 | 2DF | Joya-Maria Azzi | (2000-09-23) 23 September 2000 (age 22) | 8 | 1 | ![]() |
13 | 2DF | Waed Raed | (2006-11-09) 9 November 2006 (age 15) | 6 | 0 | ![]() |
16 | 2DF | Aya Al Jurdi | (1998-04-08) 8 April 1998 (age 24) | 8+ | 1 | ![]() |
6 | 3MF | Sophie Fayad | (2004-12-08) 8 December 2004 (age 17) | 5 | 1 | ![]() |
7 | 3MF | Syntia Salha | (2003-01-12) 12 January 2003 (age 19) | 12 | 3 | ![]() |
8 | 3MF | Zahraa Assaf | (2004-01-05) 5 January 2004 (age 18) | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
10 | 3MF | Lili Iskandar | (2002-05-16) 16 May 2002 (age 20) | 11 | 2 | ![]() |
14 | 3MF | Nathalie Matar (captain) | (1995-09-20) 20 September 1995 (age 27) | 16+ | 0 | ![]() |
18 | 3MF | Evelina El Haddad | (2005-04-30) 30 April 2005 (age 17) | 9 | 0 | ![]() |
5 | 4FW | Christy Maalouf | (2005-12-20) 20 December 2005 (age 16) | 11 | 6 | ![]() |
11 | 4FW | Mone Linnette Makkawi | (1992-10-30) 30 October 1992 (age 30) | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
15 | 4FW | Zahwa Arabi | (2005-11-02) 2 November 2005 (age 17) | 6 | 1 | ![]() |
17 | 4FW | Hiba Allouch | (2004-06-28) 28 June 2004 (age 18) | 5 | 1 | ![]() |
19 | 4FW | Petra Khoury | (1995-07-13) 13 July 1995 (age 27) | 1 | 0 | ![]() |
20 | 4FW | Dima Al Kasti | (2001-12-13) 13 December 2001 (age 20) | 11 | 3 | ![]() |
21 | 4FW | Pilar Khoury | (1994-08-25) 25 August 1994 (age 28) | 3 | 1 | ![]() |
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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DF | Amal Salha | (2000-12-02) 2 December 2000 (age 21) | 4 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
DF | Raquelle Nasr | (1995-10-01) 1 October 1995 (age 27) | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Carla Abdel Khalek | (2001-05-14) 14 May 2001 (age 21) | 5 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
MF | Maria Mansour | (2003-06-23) 23 June 2003 (age 19) | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Angie Saad | (2000-08-11) 11 August 2000 (age 22) | 2 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
FW | Ghiya Mtairek | (2000-01-09) 9 January 2000 (age 22) | 3 | 0 | ![]() |
v. ![]() |
# | Player | Caps | Goals | Period |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Taghrid Hamadeh | 22 | 2 | 2006–2015 |
Sara Bakri | 22 | 7 | 2006–2017 | |
3 | Lara Bahlawan | 17+ | 3 | 2011–2021 |
4 | Nathalie Matar | 16+ | 0 | 2015–present |
5 | Sahar Dbouk | 15+ | 1 | 2007–2015 |
Samira Awad | 15 | 2 | 2008–present | |
Rana Al Mokdad | 15 | 1 | 2017–present | |
8 | Hiba El Jaafil | 14+ | 3 | 2006–2013 |
Aya Jamal-Eddine | 14 | 0 | 2017–present | |
Yara Bou Rada | 14 | 0 | 2018–present | |
Hanin Tamim | 14 | 5 | 2018–present |
As of 4 September 2022[update].[28] Highlighted names denote a player named to the national team in the past year.
# | Player | Goals | Caps | Average | Period |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sara Bakri | 7 | 22 | 0.32 | 2006–2017 |
2 | Christy Maalouf | 6 | 11 | 0.55 | 2021–present |
3 | Nadia Assaf | 5 | 7+ | 0.71 | 2007–2013 |
Hanin Tamim | 5 | 14 | 0.36 | 2018–present | |
5 | Iman Chaito | 3 | 3+ | 1 | 2007 |
Dima Al Kasti | 3 | 11 | 0.27 | 2019–present | |
Syntia Salha | 3 | 12 | 0.25 | 2021–present | |
Hiba El Jaafil | 3 | 14+ | 0.21 | 2006–2013 | |
Lara Bahlawan | 3 | 17+ | 0.18 | 2011–2021 |
As of 4 September 2022[update].[28] Highlighted names denote a player named to the national team in the past year.
FIFA Women's World Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||||
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Host nation(s) and year |
Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Outcome | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
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Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | The 2014 AFC Women's Asian Cup served as the qualifying tournament | |||||||||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | The 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup will serve 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 record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||||
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Host nation(s) and year |
Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Outcome | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
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Did not enter | The 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup served as the qualifying tournament | |||||||||||||||
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The 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup served as the qualifying tournament | ||||||||||||||||
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Did not enter | ||||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 3rd of 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | |||||||||
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To be decided | To be decided | |||||||||||||||
Total | – | 0/7 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Total | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
AFC Women's Asian Cup record | Qualification record | ||||||||||||||||
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Host nation(s) and year |
Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Outcome | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
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Did not enter | Did not enter | |||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 3rd of 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 10 | |||||||||
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Withdrew | Withdrew | |||||||||||||||
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Did not qualify | 2nd of 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 | |||||||||
Total | – | 0/19 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Total | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 14 |
Arab Women's Cup record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Host nation(s) and year |
Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad |
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Group stage | 7th of 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | Squad |
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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 record | |||||||||
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Host nation(s) and year |
Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad |
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Did not enter | ||||||||
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Third place | 3rd of 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 6 | – |
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Did not enter | ||||||||
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Group stage | 5th of 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 13 | – |
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Did not enter | ||||||||
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Third place | 3rd of 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | Squad |
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Runners-up | 2nd of 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 4 | Squad |
Total | Best: runners-up | 4/7 | 13 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 26 | 29 | – |
Tournament | Result |
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Group stage |
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Fourth place |
As of 4 September 2022, the complete official match record of the Lebanese women's national team comprises 43 matches: 14 wins, 2 draws, and 27 losses.[19] During these matches, the team scored 69 times and conceded 145 goals. Lebanon's highest winning margin is 11 goals, which has been achieved against Kuwait in 2013 (12–1).[12]
Below is a chart of Lebanon's FIFA ranking from 2006 to the present. Following a drastic increase of 52 positions (from 144th in 2007 to 92nd in 2009, their best ranking to date), the country went through a steady decline (from 92nd in 2009 to 140th in 2021, with their lowest ranking at 148th in September 2018).[29]
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AFC Asian Cup |
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