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Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg has returned to the Norway squad for the first time in five years, ending her dispute with the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) over their treatment of women’s football.
Hegerberg, who won the inaugural Ballon d’Or Feminin in 2018, quit the national team in 2017 because of a dispute with the NFF, arguing that women in Norway did not receive the same opportunities in football as men. The federation’s attempts to break the impasse failed.
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On Thursday, Hegerberg, 26, was included in coach Martin Sjogren’s squad for the 2023 World Cup qualifiers against Kosovo and Poland next month.
“It feels incredibly good to be back,” Hegerberg said in a video message. “I will do my part to help us achieve great things, both on and off the field — for football, for Norway, but not least for the next generation.”
Hegerberg holds the record for the most goals scored in a Champions League season with a tally of 15. The 26-year-old is seeking to return to her best form following a long-term knee injury she picked up in January 2020.
Coach Sjogren described Hegerberg as “one of the world’s best strikers”.
“It’s a position where we have lost some players and she will be a very good addition to the squad we have,” Sjogren said.
“For the most part, we have talked about how we see the future together, and not what has happened in the past.
“It was mostly to do with Ada’s role and how we can make the team even better. The conversations have been very good.”
Norway, who have qualified for the 2023 World Cup, top Group F on 16 points after six games.
The 2022 Euros will be held in England in July, with Norway set to face Northern Ireland, England and Austria in the group stage.