It’s been a week of personal and collective achievements for Kenza Dali on the international stage, as the Équipe de France Féminine de Football clinched the Tournoi de France trophy for the third time in as many tournaments and Dali reached a landmark of 50 “sélections” in international colours.
Dali collected her 50th cap in the opening fixture against Denmark, a 1-0 win, before scoring in a 5-1 win over Uruguay and sealing the trophy with a 0-0 draw against Norway. Dali made her international debut in a 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification match against Hungary, scoring her first goal in the Stade de Gerland, Lyon in a 2-0 friendly win against Brazil later that year.
The success in France is another highlight of a fantastic season Dali has enjoyed since signing for Aston Villa in the summer, with the club currently sitting proudly in 5th position in the WSL.
After spending the previous season with WSL rivals Everton, the attacking midfielder joined the club in August 2022. Dali has formed a potent partnership with forward Rachel Daly that has added a dynamic dimension to Villa’s attack, with the team collectively scoring 23 goals, smashing our previous season’s best of 15 goals scored. Oh, and we still have 9 games to go.
Dali has started all 13 WSL games this season and has 9 goal contributions, scoring 3 goals and assisting on 6 others, but it’s Dali’s progressive play between midfield and attack that has been a joy to watch this season. Dali leads the stats in the WSL with distance ball carries and touches in attacking 3rd while her total of 91 progressive passes is only behind Katie Zelman’s 99, and only Lauren Hemp’s 66 progressive carries outnumber Dali’s 59 – it’s fine form.
I caught up with Georgia Homer, our WSL Fan Report writer and passionate Aston Villa Women supporter about the qualities Kenza Dali has brought to our squad this season.
Q. Hey, Georgia. It’s been an incredible season so far following Aston Villa Women. The signings of Rachel Daly and Kenza Dali has given our team a clinical cutting edge in the final third. How good has it been to see their partnership blossom?
“It has been a pleasure to watch! It’s hard to believe that Daly and Dali haven’t been playing together for years, although they did cross over briefly at West Ham. Scoring goals has been a struggle for Villa since promotion, so having a clinical duo join the squad has been transformative. They hit the ground running from the very first game of the season, both scoring in the win against Manchester City, and have continued to set the standard for Aston Villa. Having experienced internationals must be hugely valuable for the younger players too, who get to learn and work together every day“.
Q. Dali’s stats for progressive passes and carries this season are among the best in the league; she effortlessly glides through the game, displays an excellent passing range and oozes calmness when in possession. Let’s continue the superlatives – how good has she been?
“Rachel Daly stole the headlines for a long time, but Dali’s stats have become impossible to ignore. She has become a talking point for the league, up there with Lauren Hemp and Guro Reiten in terms of creating chances. We know that Everton fans were upset to lose her, but I think she’s hitting new heights at Villa. The way we are set up allows her so much freedom; she is able to make the right decision at the right time, whether that is a driving run or a 30 yard pass”.
Q. We’re still in the Women’s FA Cup, 5th in the WSL, and we strengthened well again in January; just how excited are you for the rest of this season?
“It’s easy to be excited about this team, in the short and long term. Adding Jordan Nobbs and Lucy Staniforth should bring us even more confidence in the final stretch of the league season and our cup draw against West Ham. Staniforth brings quality and protection, and Nobbs’ month speaks for itself – a hat-trick and WSL Player of the Month”.
“It still feels surreal when I look at the WSL table, considering it was only 2020 when we won promotion from the Championship. Our growth has been impressive but, more importantly, it feels sustainable. 5th place would be an incredible achievement if we can hold onto it. There is still some catching up to do with the top 4, but the WSL is getting more competitive every single season – especially with the movement of big players for game time. We also have Rachel Daly competing for the golden boot and club record attendances. For me, this is already a season to remember.”
Q. Before we go, let’s have a quick word on Carla Ward: she’s doing an amazing job, isn’t she?
“If we’re talking about important signings, we have to recognise Carla Ward as one of those. She recently signed a contract extension, which I could not be happier about. Her vision for this club is limitless and her work matches her ambitions. The mentality of this team is a huge credit to Carla as a coach, as well as the big names she manages to attract. Aston Villa have picked up more points from losing positions than any other team in the league this season; we never give up. I can’t wait to see how her project continues“.
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AUTHOR | RYAN MCKEOWN
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive Ryan Mckeown – UTV Podcast | An Aston Villa Blog
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AUTHOR | GEORGIA HOMER
Author’s UTV PODCAST archive Georgia Homer
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VILLA BELLAS
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