Tunisian international Ashfaq Farhat continues to leave a massive impact on Saudi Arabian women’s football, marking three consecutive seasons of success in the country’s leagues.
Her journey reflects the growing presence and influence of Tunisian players in Saudi competitions.
Farhat’s career in Saudi Arabia began with Sahm Club in the First Division during the 2022-2023 season, followed by a stint with Taqaddum Club in the same division last season.
This season, she captained Yarmouk in the Second Division, leading the team to a third-place finish and securing the bronze medal.
In a recent interview Kooora, Farhat discussed her impressive performance and leadership role with Yarmouk.
“I managed to score 31 goals, including seven hat-tricks and a super hat-trick in nine matches.
“I thank all the officials and players who were with me. We performed well in the league and secured third place, though unfortunately, we missed promotion to the First Division.”
Addressing the level of competition in the Second Division, she said, “The level in the Second Division is very respectable, but there is a noticeable gap in quality.
“We face only four teams competing for promotion; the rest play without basic football fundamentals, which leads to many injuries among players. I also noticed a lack of media coverage for the Second Division.”
Farhat highlighted the overall growth of women’s football in Saudi Arabia, particularly the technical advancements.
She noted that this progress has opened new opportunities for players and attracted attention throughout the Arab world.
Regarding the future of Saudi female players, especially the youth, she expressed optimism: “Saudi players, particularly youth, have great chances of reaching a global level if the Saudi Football Federation continues to focus on women’s football and fundamentals.”
Farhat also praised the achievements of Tunisian players in Saudi Arabia, such as Mariem Houij and Shaimaa Abbassi, emphasizing their important contributions to the league’s success.
Looking forward, she expressed hope for Tunisian women’s football on the international stage.
“God willing, we will see the Tunisian women’s team qualify soon with the talents we currently have.” Her personal ambition remains clear: “My future goal is to play professionally in the Spanish league with Barcelona.”
