STUDENT Zaynab Hafeji has said that England’s women reaching the World Cup semi-final has made her more ambitious – but she still dreams of going to America to play football.

The 16-year-old from Pleckgate High School took up women’s football four years ago and has played as centre back for Blackburn Rovers in a competition in London as well as Blackburn Community Sports Club.

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She also runs for Blackburn Harriers over 800m and 3000m and knows her future lies in sport.

She has just starred with her GCSE results gaining four A*s, four As and two Bs as the school recorded the best results in its history.

And this means Zaynab, who dreams of playing in America, is going to Accrington and Rossendale College on a football scholarship as well as St Christopher’s to study A-Levels in biology, chemistry and sport.

“I will be very busy but it’s what I want to do,” said Zaynab, who has been a Pleckgate sport ambassador and a school captain.

“ACCROSS is a Sports Academy so I want to go there to train hard and improve with the prospect of going to university in South Alabama or Tennessee to play football.

“I also want to study medicine.”