# Lebanon women's national under-20 football team

The Lebanon women's national under-20 football team (Arabic: منتخب لبنان لكرة القدم تحت 20 سنة للسيدات), colloquially known as "the Lady Cedars" (Arabic: صبايا الأرز), represents Lebanon in international women's youth football. The team is controlled by the Lebanon Football Association (LFA), the governing body for football in Lebanon. The team also serves as the women's national under-19 and women's national under-18 football team of Lebanon.
While the team has never participated in either the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup or the AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup, they have won two WAFF U-18 Girls Championship titles, in 2019 and 2022, and were runners-up in 2018 and 2024.

## History
### Early history (2014–2019)

The national team played their first competitive matches at the qualifiers for the 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship in November 2014. Drawn with Jordan, Uzbekistan and India, Lebanon lost all three games, finishing last in their qualifying group. Following funding and initiatives by the Lebanese Football Association towards women's football, and more specifically youth women's football, the women's national youth teams started to see success, especially in Western Asia. As of 2020, there were separate club leagues for the U15s, U17s, U19s and seniors.
In 2018 Lebanon hosted the inaugural WAFF U-18 Women's Championship between August and September, in preparation for the 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship qualification the following October. After defeating Palestine 3–0 in the opening game, Lebanon lost 2–1 to Jordan in the effective final of the WAFF Championship and finished runners-up. In October 2018, Lebanon hosted their group in the first round of Asian qualifiers, in which they were drawn with Australia, Mongolia and Hong Kong; despite losing 2–0 to Australia, Lebanon won against the other two teams (thanks to four goals by Yara Bou Rada against Hong Kong and three goals by Samira Awad) and qualified to the second round. They were the only Arab country to do so.
During this period, most of the U19s players were also called up to the senior team. In January 2019, 17 of the 23 players called up to the 2019 WAFF Women's Championship in Bahrain came from the U19 team, bringing the average age of the squad to 18.9 years. Lebanon eventually finished third. The players returned in April 2019 to compete in the second round of Asian U-19 qualifiers. Needing a second-place finish in their group of four teams to reach the final tournament, Lebanon finished last after losing against South Korea, Vietnam and Iran.

### West Asian success (2019–present)

The team's first success came in 2019, in the second edition of the WAFF U-18 Championship in Bahrain. After winning all three games in the group stage, Lebanon advanced the semi-finals, where they defeated Palestine 4–2 to reach the final against hosts Bahrain. Lebanon won 3–0 and were crowned champions for the first time. Three years later, in 2022, Lebanon won their second-consecutive WAFF Championship title on home soil after beating Syria 5–1 in the final.
In March 2023, Lebanon took part in the first round of 2024 Asian Cup qualification, which had been rebranded as an under-20 competition. After defeating Bhutan (6–2) and Mongolia (7–0), Lebanon drew their decisive game against Jordan (0–0) and progressed to the second round for the second consecutive year. Less than three months later, in June, Lebanon were drawn with Australia, Vietnam and Iran. Similarly to 2019, Lebanon lost all three matches and finished last in their group.
In November 2024, Lebanon participated in the fourth edition of the WAFF U-18 Girls Championship; the tournament was played in a single round-robin format, with defending champions Lebanon finishing second in a group with Jordan, Palestine and Saudi Arabia.

## Players
### Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2024 WAFF U-18 Girls Championship, held in Jordan between 28 November and 6 December 2024.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Club |
| 1GK | Marcelle Skaiki | (2007-02-01) 1 February 2007 (age 18) | No Limits |
| 1GK | Marie-Joe Chebli | (2009-02-14) 14 February 2009 (age 16) | EFP |
| 1GK | Nour Hammoudy | (2007-03-08) 8 March 2007 (age 18) | BFA |
| 2DF | Asiyah Zreika | (2006-04-07) 7 April 2006 (age 18) | EFP |
| 2DF | Ayana Rezkallah | (2008-04-21) 21 April 2008 (age 16) | EFP |
| 2DF | Haya Najjad | (2008-01-06) 6 January 2008 (age 17) | BFA |
| 2DF | Joya Bou Assaf | (2009-10-15) 15 October 2009 (age 15) | Jounieh |
| 2DF | Paula Karam | (2007-09-20) 20 September 2007 (age 17) | Jounieh |
| 2DF | Waed Raed | (2006-11-09) 9 November 2006 (age 18) | ÓBerytus |
| 3MF | Elissa Hariri | (2007-04-08) 8 April 2007 (age 17) | Sydney Olympic |
| 3MF | Lama Abdine | (2006-09-09) 9 September 2006 (age 18) | BFA |
| 3MF | Rama Moghrabi | (2010-10-20) 20 October 2010 (age 14) | Salam Zgharta |
| 3MF | Tatianna Kanaan | (2007-02-09) 9 February 2007 (age 18) | Salam Zgharta |
| 3MF | Yara El Gitani | (2010-09-24) 24 September 2010 (age 14) | ÓBerytus |
| 4FW | Angelina Saade | (2006-06-23) 23 June 2006 (age 18) | Trinity Valley Cardinals |
| 4FW | Lea El Hajj Ali | (2008-06-04) 4 June 2008 (age 16) | BFA |
| 4FW | Luna Khazem | (2007-11-01) 1 November 2007 (age 17) | Cypress Chargers |
| 4FW | Lynn Moutran | (2008-08-25) 25 August 2008 (age 16) | BFA |
| 4FW | Shereen Karnib | (2008-08-25) 25 August 2008 (age 16) | Western Sydney Wanderers |
| 4FW | Sherin Hasno | (2007-03-25) 25 March 2007 (age 17) | HB Køge |
| 4FW | Yasmine Hamdar | (2007-07-24) 24 July 2007 (age 17) | ÓBerytus |

### Recent call-ups

The following footballers were part of a national selection in the past 12 months, but are not part of the current squad.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club | Latest call-up |
| GK | Ghenwa Karam | (2010-12-04) 4 December 2010 (age 14) | - | - | BFA | Training camp; November 2024 |
| DF | Anna Ousyran | (2006-11-11) 11 November 2006 (age 18) | - | - | FC Beirut | Training camp; November 2024 |
| DF | Abeer Mojahed | (2006-11-06) 6 November 2006 (age 18) | - | - | No Limits | v. Jordan; 27 April 2024 |
| DF | Tala Abi Akl | (2006-01-12) 12 January 2006 (age 19) | - | - | Seizième ES | v. Jordan; 27 April 2024 |
| DF | Tia Rita Daher | (2006-02-16) 16 February 2006 (age 19) | - | - | Aquinas Saints | v. Jordan; 27 April 2024 |
| MF | Noura Dawy | (2008-11-08) 8 November 2008 (age 16) | - | - | BFA | Training camp; November 2024 |
| MF | Cecile Iskandar | (2007-03-12) 12 March 2007 (age 18) | - | - | EFP | Training camp; November 2024 |
| MF | Calina Osman | (2009-05-25) 25 May 2009 (age 15) | - | - | BFA | Training camp; November 2024 |
| MF | Celine Bitar | (2007-07-17) 17 July 2007 (age 17) | - | - | Salam Zgharta | v. Jordan; 27 April 2024 |
| FW | Sarah Fakih | (2008-03-22) 22 March 2008 (age 16) | - | - | Southern Stars | Training camp; November 2024 |
| FW | Sara Issa | (2009-02-18) 18 February 2009 (age 16) | - | - | Jounieh | Training camp; November 2024 |
| FW | Razan Timani | (2006-10-14) 14 October 2006 (age 18) | - | - | Akhaa Ahli Aley | Training camp; November 2024 |
| FW | Remy Melli | (2008-07-04) 4 July 2008 (age 16) | - | - | Jabal Hasbaya | Training camp; November 2024 |
| FW | Leah Hachem | (2006-08-25) 25 August 2006 (age 18) | - | - | Saint-Priest | v. Jordan; 27 April 2024 |

## Competitive record
### FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

| FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record | FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record | FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record | FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record | FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record | FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record | FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record | FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record | FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record | FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record |
| Host nation(s) and year | Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Outcome | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 2002 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2004 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2006 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2008 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2010 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2012 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2014 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2016 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | The 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament |
| 2018 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2022 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | The 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament | The 2019 AFC U-19 Women's Championship served as the qualifying tournament |
| 2024 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | The 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup served as the qualifying tournament | The 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup served as the qualifying tournament | The 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup served as the qualifying tournament | The 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup served as the qualifying tournament | The 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup served as the qualifying tournament | The 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup served as the qualifying tournament | The 2024 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup served as the qualifying tournament |
| 2026 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | The 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup will serve as the qualifying tournament | The 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup will serve as the qualifying tournament | The 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup will serve as the qualifying tournament | The 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup will serve as the qualifying tournament | The 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup will serve as the qualifying tournament | The 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup will serve as the qualifying tournament | The 2026 AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup will serve as the qualifying tournament |
| Total | – | 0/12 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Total | – | – | – | – | – | – |

### AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup

| AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup record | AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup record | AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup record | AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup record | AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup record | AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup record | AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup record | AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup record | AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup record | AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record |
| Host nation(s) and year | Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Squad | Outcome | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 2002 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2004 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2006 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2007 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2009 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2011 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2013 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2015 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4th of 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
| 2017 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2019 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2nd of 5, 4th of 4 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 12 | 20 |
| 2024 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 1st of 4, 4th of 4 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 12 |
| Total | – | 0/11 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | Total | 15 | 4 | 1 | 10 | 27 | 45 |

### WAFF U-18 Girls Championship

WAFF U-18 Girls Championship record :
| Host nation(s) and year | Round | Pos | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 2018 | Runners-up | 2nd of 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 2019 | Champions | 1st of 7 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 3 |
| 2022 | Champions | 1st of 7 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
| 2024 | Runners-up | 2nd of 4 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Total | Best: champions | 4/4 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 40 | 9 |