The Ghana Women’s Premier League continues to provide a safe space for women to pursue different objectives and goals.
It’s become an avenue for many girls to play sports but also to education at the highest level and increasingly as the world embraces religion and football, it is allowing many Muslim girls to enjoy the sports they love whilst never giving up their religious principles.
There was a time when playing football in a hijab was a taboo subject. But when Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina made headlines as the first player to wear a hijab at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023 and Ghana’s Anatu Sadat did it in 2021 bin competitive football in a local match., it opened the floodgate to other women to do same including Safiatu Salifu of Epiphany Warriors and Osman Huzimah of Jonina Academy.
Having played for Valued Girls, Socrates, Ampem Darkoa and Thunder Queens, the goalkeeper was particularly inspired by her Tanzanian colleagues at Young Africans. She says she is proud to be embracing religion. “When I went to Tanzania, I saw other Ladies wearing it so they encouraged me that’s why I started wearing it. As a lady and a Muslim, you have to cover yourself”.
Jonina Academy’s goalkeeper Osman Huzimah is another player incorporating the hijab into her training kit reflecting a growing trend of female Muslim players confidently adopting their beliefs on and off the pitch. According to her, “Wearing Hijab and veil makes me proud of my tradition”.
For the 2 players wearing the hijab was also a means of winning the buy ins of their parents to play football. As they’ve won their Hijabs the parents are accepting of their career. For Safia Salifu her mother who resisted her football dreams have finally come to terms with it. “It was difficult at my mother’s side, but my uncle and sister encouraged me”. For her part, Osman Huzimah has had to fight resistance from her parents. “It wasn’t easy, my daddy didn’t accept me to play football, but my mother always convinced him to allow me play but now everything is fine”, says Huzimah.
Coaches and technical staff appreciate this representation, seeing it as a positive step toward inclusivity. Jonina Ladies coach Joseph owusu highlights Huzimah importance to the team. “We are proud to have a goalkeeper like Huzimah who doesn’t joke with her culture and religion. She has been instrumental in our team. According to Epiphany Warriors assistant coach Gifty Ayew, says it’s a good call for Safia to show her religion.
While wearing the hijab in football is not new, its visibility in the Ghana Women’s Premier League is growing, empowering more young girls to play the game they love without compromising their identity.
