- 09:30
From Jeddah to Beirut, the message is clear: the future of Lebanese women’s football is well and truly here. Making their debut in the third edition of the WAFF U14 Girls Championship, Sary Chehayeb’s young squad swept past Bahrain with authority, claiming a convincing 4–0 victory at the King Abdulaziz University Stadium. A dominant collective performance that perfectly launches their regional campaign.
Lebanon had marked this opening match on their calendar weeks in advance. A new generation, a new challenge, and one clear objective: to prove that grassroots women’s football in Lebanon is on the rise. In the heat of Jeddah, the U14 national team delivered exactly that, quickly taking control against a Bahrain side that had started with energy.
A well-controlled first half
After a few minutes of Bahraini pressure, the Lebanese players regained possession, tightened their lines and imposed their tempo in midfield, led by Meriam Monzer and Acil Hajj, well supported by Mickaella Mayni. The first real chance proved decisive: in the 10th minute, a beautifully worked team move found Sara Saad inside the box. The striker showed composure and opened the scoring with a precise finish, rewarding Lebanon’s growing dominance.
Ahead on the scoreboard, the teammates of Christina Haydar kept pushing forward. The runs of Malak Hussein out wide, the overlapping support of Marita Chebly and Christina Chebly from the back, and the calm presence of goalkeeper Sophia Ayad allowed Lebanon to control the match without real danger. The score remained 1–0 at halftime, but with the clear feeling that Lebanon had fully taken command of the game.
A second-half attacking festival
After the break, the young Lebanese side raised the tempo even further. In the 52nd minute, Marita Chebly took advantage of a poorly cleared ball to double the lead with an unstoppable strike. Bahrain began to fade physically, while Lebanon flourished technically. Chances kept coming, substitutes injected fresh energy, and the pressure on the Bahraini defense remained relentless.
The final reward arrived late in the match. In the 76th minute, Acil Hajj reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box and netted the third goal, confirming her outstanding midfield performance. Then, in the 83rd minute, Christina Chebly completed the attacking showcase with a fourth goal, sealing a comprehensive victory and a dream start to the tournament.
At the back, the defensive unit led by Nour Bou Hamdan, Jane Dib and Claire Hnein held firm until the final whistle, earning a well-deserved clean sheet.
On the road to the semifinals
With this 4–0 victory, Lebanon takes the lead in Group A with three points, ahead of Jordan, who will open their campaign against Bahrain on the second matchday. The Lebanese girls will be rested during that round before facing Jordan on Tuesday, January 9 at 2:45 PM, once again at the King Abdulaziz University Stadium.
A place in the semifinals, scheduled for January 11, is now firmly within reach. If the Lebanese side can reproduce this near-perfect performance against Jordan, they will be entitled to aim even higher in this regional tournament. One thing is certain: in Jeddah, the U14 generation has shown that the future of Lebanese women’s football is not being built behind the scenes—it is already taking shape on the pitch, four goals at a time.
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