Amputee Lionesses' Journey to World Cup Glory!

by Rebecca Legon

After a year of intense training and preparation, Team England proudly returned from Barranquilla, Colombia, after competing in the first-ever Women's Amputee Football World Cup this November 2024. At just sixteen, Annabel Kiki, the youngest player on the team and in the tournament, achieved her own victorious World Cup glory with her exceptional striking skills, winning the Golden Boot award with six remarkable goals. 

Reflecting on her journey, Annabel shared, "It was incredible. I can't believe I played in the first-ever World Cup and won the Golden Boot, especially considering the last two terrifying years I have endured recovering from my cancer diagnosis, undergoing gruelling chemotherapy, and almost losing my life to sepsis. It shows that life goes on beyond amputation, and we can all rebuild and reinvent our lives after traumatic events. Rediscovering my love for football and helping to create a pathway for women's amputee football has been especially rewarding for me." 

Facing new challenges, the Amputee Lionesses adapted from England's familiar cold and wet climate to Barranquilla's time zone and sweltering heat, where temperatures soared to 37 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, England's journey to the finals was cut short in a gripping, hard-fought match against the USA. After a 0-0 draw, we faced a nail-biter end to the game in a tense penalty shootout, narrowly missing a spot in the semi-finals. Annabel expressed the team's resilience and dedication, saying, "It was hard to lose this game as it meant our journey to the semi-finals and finals was cut short. We gave it our all, but penalties are tough on any team, and the odds are always 50/50. We quickly accepted it as a team and focused on achieving the next best thing—a 5th place world ranking." The team's strength was inspiring as we regrouped and set our sights on securing victories against Haiti and Ecuador, ultimately sealing a 5th-place finish for England in the world rankings. 

As the oldest player on the team, Rebecca Legon—Movao Editor—is exceptionally proud to have been part of the beginning of women's amputee football. "We've created something truly unique, igniting global awareness and passion for this new disability women's sport. We've inspired countless girls to believe they, too, can play women's amputee football and have helped create pathways for them in future tournaments. Looking back on my involvement in the first-ever World Cup, I am proud to have contributed to the evolution of this incredible sport for our amputee and limb-different communities." 

Beyond the competition, it was heartwarming to see teams from different countries enjoying time off the pitch and around the hotels, socializing and building camaraderie—united by the same passion for the future of this sport. Congratulations to Colombia for hosting such a vibrant and welcoming World Cup, with lively opening and closing ceremonies led by Miss Colombia 2012 amputee Daniela Alvarez, and for claiming the World Cup championship, with the USA taking second place, Poland third, and Kenya fourth. The performance of the Amputee Lionesses and all the participating teams has significantly impacted the future of women's amputee football, setting the stage for even greater achievements to come. Rumour has it that amputee football might be included in the LA 2028 Paralympics—let's hope so! 

If you're interested in amputee football, now is the time to get involved as the sport continues to expand with more countries joining in. You can play your part in the evolution of amputee football, with men's, women's, and children's teams all looking for players. For more information, visit the World Amputee Football Federation's website at WAFF. 

Joining the amputee football community allows you to play an incredible sport you'll love and be part of a supportive and inclusive community. Here are some other global associations: 

Photos by: Paula Duda