Anan Al-Mahanna, a pioneer in Saudi women’s football, has experienced both the setbacks and breakthroughs that have come with the sport’s rapid development in the kingdom. Her journey, marked by resilience and dedication, has culminated in her current role as a player for Eastern Flames in the Saudi Women’s Premier League.
Al-Mahanna founded Al-Taqadom’s women’s team in mid-2023, quickly guiding the club to the semifinals of the inaugural Saudi Women’s First Division season. The team, based in the Al-Qassim province, came within one match of securing promotion to the Premier League but fell 1-0 to Al-Taraji. Despite the disappointment, which led Al-Mahanna to take time abroad to recover from the emotional toll, she and many of her teammates persisted and eventually joined Premier League clubs, including her current team.
The 31-year-old player’s football passion began in her childhood years in Egypt, where she lived for 16 years while her father served at the Saudi Embassy in Cairo. Encouraged by her older brother, Salman, she developed her skills early, laying the foundation for her future career. Upon returning to Saudi Arabia, Al-Mahanna confronted limited opportunities for female players but remained actively involved in cultivating the sport domestically.
Before turning professional, she balanced a full-time job at a car dealership with evening football practice and competition in the First Division. The shift to professional status required her to resign and focus fully on training and rest, a choice that led her to relocate from Jeddah to the Eastern Province, where she has now played for Eastern Flames for two years.
Al-Mahanna describes this phase as particularly challenging, citing physical separation from family as well as administrative, financial, and psychological difficulties. Despite these obstacles, she found support in teammates like Fidaa Ashour, as well as encouragement from family, friends, and coaches in Jeddah.
In addition to her playing career, Al-Mahanna has contributed significantly to women's football in Saudi Arabia through team development. She founded Team SENS, the Saudi Environment Association’s official women’s football team, which won the Global Goals World Cup Crowd Champion title and qualified for its finals in the Eastern Province. She also established other teams, including Footy, and captained White Lion before its later affiliation with Neom.
Al-Mahanna’s experiences mirror the broader expansion of women’s sports opportunities in Saudi Arabia, reflecting a changing landscape that promises more pathways for future generations of female athletes.