A Call for Change in Women’s Football Development
Ghanaian football coach Yussif Basigi has raised an important issue that is affecting the country’s women’s football – the lack of education among players. With the national U-20 women’s team qualifying for seven consecutive FIFA Women’s World Cups, the team has yet to break through the group stage, and Basigi believes that the players’ limited educational background plays a major role in this.

In an interview with 3 Sports, Basigi emphasized that the problem isn’t with coaching itself, but with the players’ understanding of modern football tactics. “The problem is about the education of our players,” he explained. “The level of their education is very low. It’s below average honestly speaking, so their understanding of the modern trend of the game is a problem.”

Basigi pointed to the example of Japan, where players show up early in the morning for classes with laptops and iPads, committing to their education alongside their football development. He noted how this commitment to education directly impacts their understanding of the game and their performance.

The Need for Educational Criteria in Player Development
While acknowledging the Ghana Football Association’s efforts to establish women’s football academies, Basigi believes more needs to be done. He suggests that educational criteria should be included in player selection for youth national teams. He even proposes that theoretical exams on aspects of the game could help to improve players’ tactical understanding.

Despite the growth in facilities, Basigi warns that without an educational focus, the players will struggle when exposed to advanced coaching techniques and technologies such as video analysis and data analytics. “You can bring the best coach to manage any of the junior teams but when they get out there, they will fumble,” he said. “On the African continent, they will play very well, but when they get to where these analytical tools thrive, they will struggle.”