Football found Salma Amani early at the ripe age of just three years old alongside her twin and neighborhood friends. With limited opportunities for young girls at that time, she started her football journey as the only girl in an all-boys team. "I was the only one for many years," she recalls, highlighting the perseverance it took to play the sport she loved. Born in Morocco and raised in France, deciding which national team to represent seemed straightforward at first. She initially played for France simply because she didn't know Morocco had a women's team at the time. When Salma discovered that Morocco did indeed have a national team, she was pleasantly surprised and thrilled. "When the opportunity came to play for Morocco, I didn't hesitate," she explains. "I was born in Morocco; all my family lives there. It's my heart. I felt my place was there."
Initially, Morocco seemed far from the global football stage. Playing in a World Cup wasn't even considered realistic until recent years, when significant national investment in women's football transformed the landscape. Morocco's successful performance in the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup further invigorated the country, generating massive support as the women's team prepared for their debut World Cup appearance. This transformation culminated in a historic moment in Australia. After securing a win against Colombia, the team faced an anxious wait after their match ended. Not leaving the field, the team huddled together, holding one another tight with hope, their eyes glued to a phone screen awaiting their destiny. "When we realized we'd made it, it was overwhelming," she describes. "You think about your family, your friends. You want to cry, scream, lay down—everything at once."
For Salma, football is more than just a career, it’s an enduring passion shaped by experiences in France, the United States, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the opportunity to explore diverse cultures and grow personally. Pursuing this passion hasn't come without significant personal sacrifice. "Leaving my family was a huge sacrifice," she admits. Yet, the profound joy of moments like representing Morocco at the World Cup reminds her exactly why she continues to play. "Football is my life. It’s my balance," Salma reflects. "If there's an opportunity to play in another country, why not?" For her, football transcends goals and glory, it’s a powerful force that connects communities and shapes culture.