Yussif Basigi guided the Black Princesses to a gold medal at the 2023 African Games as they beat rivals Nigeria 2-1 after extra time at the Cape Coast stadium.
The determination of the the GhanaU-20 female side has been evident throughout the competition with the spotlight shining on Mukarama Abdulai among other talented ladies within this promising team.
Although the success is undeniably remarkable, it may not come as a surprise considering Yussif Basigi’s impressive history in women’s football, which includes accomplishing this very feat nine years ago in Congo.
Let's give Yussif Basigi his flowers – the undisputed king of women's football in Ghana.
Ghana's women have won two gold medals in the history of the African Games (2015 & 2024) and guess what? He was the coach on both occasions. Remarkable! pic.twitter.com/sBxaQrgaxm
— Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo (@Fentuo_) March 21, 2024
Basigi a CAF License A holder and a degree in Health, Physical Training and Recreation from the University of Education, Winneba has had the opportunity to handle the Black Queens as an assistant coach from 2011-2013, and head coach from 2013-2017and looks to have the Midas touch.
In the 2015 African Games in Congo Brazzaville, Basigi led the Black Queens to achieve an envious feat of clinching gold.
He also won four Women’s Premier League titles with Hasaacas Ladies and guided them to a historic second-place finish in the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt where they lost to Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.
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Despite leaving his role as Black Princesses coach, he was entrusted with the same role once more after three as the Ghana Football Association reappointed.
Yussif Basigi’s (Coach of the Black Princesses) name flies right under the radar when names of major contributors to the sport in this country are mentioned. What he has done for the game in this country is incredible. Deserves a lot of praise.
— Yaw (@theyawofosu) March 21, 2024
He has handled the job with sheer brilliance since his appointment guiding the team to the West African Football Union (WAFU) U-20 success.
Impressively he has also steered the team to World Cup qualification marking their seventh successive appearance on the global stage. This opportunity will see the 52-year-old aim to break the group stage jinx in Columbia later this year.
With 15 wins and two draws, Basigi is yet to taste defeat since he took over as Black Princesses head coach.
Basigi’s capacity to develop talent and effectively utilise the resources at his disposal has been the cornerstone of his coaching career. A characteristic that sets him apart from his competitors when it comes to women’s football in Ghana.
Leading up to the 2023 African Games, while the Black Princesses were initially optimistic, their determination to secure a medal gained momentum as they convincingly won their first two matches, garnering attention in the process.
Now, aiming for the ultimate prize, the Black Princesses faced the formidable challenge of Nigeria, making the quest for gold undoubtedly a tough battle.
But with Basigi in the dugout, the Princesses went all out to write their names in Ghana and African Games folklore.
The win also means Basigi now has two winner medals in the history of the African Games.
While Ghana’s football community has been fortunate to have talented coaches, they often struggle when faced with challenging circumstances. Nonetheless, Basigi has consistently demonstrated his ability to leave a lasting impact on every team he has coached, setting a clear path for success.
By Frank-Kamal Acheampong|3Sports|Ghana