Riyadh: The Saudi Arabian Football Federation Women’s Cup 2024 final showcased the talents of players and highlighted the remarkable growth of women’s football in the Kingdom, the organization’s vice president said.
Lamia Bahian’s comments on Saturday came after Al-Ahli were crowned as champions of the first women’s edition of the competition.
“We are truly grateful for the enthusiastic participation and support shown during the SAFF Women’s Cup,” she added.
Al-Ahli secured a 3-2 victory against Al-Shabab in the final, held at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Thursday.
Saudi Vice Minister of Sport Bader Alkadi presented Al-Ahli with the trophy and praised their performance throughout the tournament.
Bahian said: “We commend all the participating clubs for their remarkable performances and commitment to the sport. Their efforts serve as an inspiration for the continued advancement of women’s football, and we look forward to witnessing its continued success and progress.”
Sixteen clubs took part in the SAFF Women’s Cup and were divided into two groups based on their rankings from the previous season. Group one included the eight clubs from the Premier League, while the other consisted of the top eight clubs from the First Division. The tournament followed a knockout format, kicking off from the round of 16.
Competition awards for standout players took place after the final. Ibtisam Jraidi claimed the top scorer title with 14 goals, Alice Kusi of Al-Ahli was named best player, and Al-Qadisiyah’s Lindsay Harris received best goalkeeper award after conceding only two goals throughout the championship.
