Al-Shabab
Full nameAl-Shabab Women Football Club
Nickname(s)Al Leith (White Lioness)
Founded2017 (2017) as Storm WFC
GroundPrince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium, Riyadh
Capacity15,000
ChairmanPrincess Reem bint Abdullah Al-Saud
Head coachBrazil Fabio Guerreiro
LeagueSaudi Women's Premier League
2023–24SWPL, 6th of 8
Al Shabab active departments

Football
(men's)

Football
(women's)

Al-Shabab Women Football Club, commonly referred to as Al-Shabab Ladies (Arabic: سيدات الشباب), is a Saudi women's football club based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The club plays in the Saudi Women's Premier League, the top tier of Saudi women's football. Back in 2019, the Storm WFC was established in alignment with the evolving landscape of women's rights in the kingdom.

History

2019–2022: Founding and early Presence

The Storm Women's Football Club was established in Jeddah in 2019 in response to the growing interest in women's football in the kingdom. The team's initial foray onto the national stage occurred during the Women's Community Football League regional qualifiers in Jeddah, where they excelled, topping their group and advancing to the second round. Despite facing elimination after a 3-nil loss to Jeddah Eagles, the club secured a commendable podium finish.

In 2021, the team showcased their progress by participating in the SAFF Women's National Football Championship. They finished second in the Western region qualifiers, earning them a spot in the knockout stage. Unfortunately, their journey came to an end with a defeat to Al-Mamlaka, the eventual champions of the tournament.[1]

2023–present: Post-Al-Shabab acquisition and SWPL

In October 2022, it was officially announced that Al-Shabab has acquired the team to participate in the newly launched Saudi Women's Premier League.[2] Right before the league kick-off, Al-Shabab revealed the appointment of former Egyptian international Marwa El-Hawat as the team's coach. The club also confirmed the signing of Ugandan goalkeeper Ruth Aturo, Lebanese striker Nancy Tchaylian, and the Egyptian duo Noha Tarek and Hayam Abdelhafez.[3] Resulting in the club finishing in third place at the end of the season.

months post the conclusion of the inaugural season of the SWPL, Al Shabab acquired Al Yamamah FC who had finished 4th in the 2022–23 season, and integrated it into its A team.[4]

Prior to the 2023–24 season and to the club's first international invitational competition, the club recruited star players from regional and outside the region like Oriana Altuve, Rita Chikwelu, Chaima Abbassi, Mai Sweilem and notably Corina Luijks who became the first European to play for the team.[5]

Players

Current squad

As of 18 November 2023

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Saudi Arabia KSA Layla Al-Qahtani
2 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Dalal Abdullatif
3 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Leen Mohammed (captain)
4 DF Tunisia TUN Chaima Abbassi
7 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Noura Ibrahim
8 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Adha Alfahd
9 FW Venezuela VEN Oriana Altuve
10 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Raghad Helmi
11 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Fatimah Mansour
13 DF Saudi Arabia KSA Tahani Al-Zahrani
14 FW Netherlands NED Corina Luijks
No. Pos. Nation Player
15 MF Jordan JOR Mai Sweilem
18 MF Nigeria NGA Rita Chikwelu
21 GK Saudi Arabia KSA Mona Abdulrahman
22 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Abeer Al-Ajmi
47 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Modhi Abdulmuhsin
55 MF Saudi Arabia KSA Atheer Al-Juwair
66 FW Saudi Arabia KSA Al Bandari Mobarak
98 DF Jordan JOR Lana Feras
MF Saudi Arabia KSA Raghad Almohammed
MF Saudi Arabia KSA Basmah Hassan
DF Saudi Arabia KSA Munirah Ahmed

Management and staff

Managerial history

Dates Name
2022–2023 Egypt Marwa El-Hawat
2023–present Brazil Fabio Guerreiro

References

  1. "The Women's League: The Kingdom and the Challenge Advance to the Semi-Finals". slaati.com (in Arabic). 3 January 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  2. "Saudi Women's League: 'Al-Shabab' acquire 'Storm'... 'Eastern Flames' strengthen its team with New Signings". aawsat.com (in Arabic). 7 October 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  3. "Al-Shabab Saudi agrees with Marwa El-Hawat, coach of the Egyptian national team, to train the women's team". koraplus.com (in Arabic). 4 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  4. "Al-Shabab officially incorporates the Yamama Women's Team... with Princess Reem as the Executive Director". sabq.org (in Arabic). 4 April 2023. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
  5. "Saudi Arabia football revolution spreads to women's game". kennisfm.com. Retrieved 21 November 2023.
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