From Goalie Gloves to Living In Wooden Kiosk: Ex-Black Queens keeper Memunatu Sulemana shares her sad story

Former Ghanaian women’s national football team goalkeeper, Memunatu Sulemana, who had a successful career spanning more than a decade, has recently revealed the challenges she’s facing after retiring from the sport.

Despite representing Ghana in over 30 matches and being part of the team that participated in the FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments of 1999, 2003, and 2007, Sulemana finds herself in a difficult situation.

Sulemana, now 45 years old, expressed that her financial situation is not reflective of her accomplished career. She shared that the earnings from her time as a football player were meager, leading to her current circumstances.

In an interview with Original TV, available on YouTube, she disclosed that she currently resides in a makeshift dwelling located in Kaneshie, Accra.

Sulemana’s current condition is surprising, given her continued involvement in football-related activities even after retiring as a player. In 2018, she received an invitation from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to assist with the draw for the Women’s African Cup of Nations held in Ghana that year.

Additionally, two years later, she took on roles within Ghana’s U17 female national team, the Black Maidens. Her initial position was as the goalkeepers’ trainer, and she subsequently held the same role for the Black Queens.

Sulemana’s story sheds light on the financial struggles faced by some former athletes, despite their contributions to the sport.

Her journey, from representing her country on the world stage to dealing with economic challenges post-retirement, underscores the need for improved support systems for athletes once their playing careers come to an end.