Rwanda's Women's Football Coach Suspended over Controversial Comments

The Rwandan Football Federation (Ferwafa) swiftly responded to the contentious remarks made by Grace Nyinawumuntu, the head coach of Rwanda's women's football team, by suspending her from her coaching role. The suspension was announced on Saturday following her comments about the Ghanaian women's football team, whom she described as "like men" after her team's heavy defeat in an African Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier held in Kigali on Wednesday.

Nyinawumuntu expressed that her team felt intimidated by the Ghanaian side, resulting in a significant 7-0 loss. She stated, "They have girls who we think have male hormones. They are girls who are like men. Our team was scared... when they got to the pitch, they conceded because they were scared."

Ferwafa issued a statement to AFP confirming the coach's suspension, which would remain in effect "until further notice." The federation justified its decision by deeming Nyinawumuntu's comments an "inappropriate choice of language" following the game and emphasized that her remarks about the Ghanaian players violated the rules and values of football in Rwanda.

The statement from Ferwafa stressed the importance of upholding professional conduct, refraining from baseless remarks, and aligning statements with the truth.

Grace Nyinawumuntu, who made history in 2014 as Rwanda's first female professional football coach, had previously faced controversy during her coaching career. In 2017, she was suspended as the head coach of AS Kigali Women due to allegations of sexual harassment made by players on the team. Subsequently, Nyinawumuntu pursued legal action against the club, winning the case and being awarded $47,000 in damages (equivalent to 44,000 euros).

Her appointment as the head coach of Rwanda's national women's football team in June of this year marked a significant milestone in her coaching journey. However, her recent remarks have led to her suspension, underscoring the significance of maintaining respectful and sportsmanlike conduct within the realm of football.