Former Afghanistan women's captain says Taliban return 'like a nightmare'

Khalida Popal, the former captain of the Afghanistan women's national team, has described the Taliban's return to power this month as "like a nightmare."

After the withdrawal of international troops over the summer, the Taliban has seized back control of the country through force after 20 years outside of power. This week, the group took Kabul as foreign nations scrambled to evacuate embassies.

Popal, now a team director, has said she's received messages from her former team-mates saying they are scared of how the regime may treat women and unsure if they will be able to leave the country.

What was said?

"I receive messages from players from Afghanistan who are crying, saying we are abandoned and stuck at home not able to get out, they are afraid," Popal told BBC Sport. "All the dreams have just gone. It is just like a nightmare."

Popal, 34, is now based in Denmark, where she still serves as the director of the Afghanistan women's national team.

"Players are sending their videos and saying: 'The people I talked against are now outside my door, I cannot breathe, I am so scared and I don't see any protection,'" Popal added.

"What is happening right now is back to square one. We feel the show is over."

Popal, who helped form the first Afghan women's national team in 2007, has said she fears for the safety of girls and women under Taliban rule.

"We encouraged women and girls to stand up and be bold, and now I am telling them to take photos down, shut down your social media and try to shut down their voices. This causes so much pain," she said.

"The players have been so vocal, standing up for women's rights, and now their lives are in grave danger."

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