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Hijab and Football: How Ghana Women’s Premier League is embracing diversity
Anatu Sadat (Photo by Sika Fotos)
ACCRA, February 12, 2025 - The Ghana Women’s Premier League continues to provide a safe space for women to pursue different objectives and goals. It’s been an avenue for many girls to play sports and also get an education at the highest level. And increasingly, as the world embraces religion and football, it is allowing many Muslim girls to enjoy the sport 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 Ghana’s Anatu Sadat did it in 2021 in a local competitive match and Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina made headlines as the first player to wear a hijab at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, the floodgates were opened to other women, including Safiatu Salifu of Epiphany Warriors and Osman Huzimah of Jonina Academy.
Having played for Valued Girls, Socrates, Ampem Darkoa and Thunder Queens, Safiatu Salifu, a 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.”
SAFIATU SALIFU (Photo by Blinkz Images)
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 a hijab and veil makes me proud of my tradition.”
PARENTAL SUPPORT For the two players, wearing the hijab was also a means of ensure the buy-in of their parents to play football. As they’ve worn their hijab, their parents are accepting of their career. For 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.
A GOOD CALL Coaches and technical staff appreciate this representation, seeing it as a positive step toward inclusivity. Jonina Ladies coach Joseph Owusu highlights Huzimah's 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, 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.
WATCH VIDEO HERE
There was a time when playing football in a hijab was a taboo subject. But when Ghana’s Anatu Sadat did it in 2021 in a local competitive match and Moroccan defender Nouhaila Benzina made headlines as the first player to wear a hijab at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2023, the floodgates were opened to other women, including Safiatu Salifu of Epiphany Warriors and Osman Huzimah of Jonina Academy.
Having played for Valued Girls, Socrates, Ampem Darkoa and Thunder Queens, Safiatu Salifu, a 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 a hijab and veil makes me proud of my tradition.”
PARENTAL SUPPORT For the two players, wearing the hijab was also a means of ensure the buy-in of their parents to play football. As they’ve worn their hijab, their parents are accepting of their career. For 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.
A GOOD CALL Coaches and technical staff appreciate this representation, seeing it as a positive step toward inclusivity. Jonina Ladies coach Joseph Owusu highlights Huzimah's 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, 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.
WATCH VIDEO HERE
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