Memunatu Sulemana: Former Black Queens goalkeeper’s shocking retirement life

Former Ghana Black Queens goalkeeper Memunatu Sulemana served Ghana while in her prime. A strong member of the Black Queens squad, she played at multiple tournaments with the team. Starting her career with the team in 1994, the former shot-stopper is living a forgettable life that does not show she was a national star.

Memunatu Sulemana played at the 1999 Women’s World Cup which was hosted and won by the United States. It was Ghana’s maiden appearance at the global soccer tournament. She followed that up with further appearances in the 2003 edition held in the USA and the 2007 edition hosted by China.

She also starred in Ghana for Police Ladies before turning out for Nigerian Pelican Stars. Memunatu starred for Ghana alongside Adjoa Bayor, Alerta Sackey, and Mercy Tagoe Quarcoo.

Despite her glittering career, Memunatu is now living a life of poverty post-football. A visit by the crew from Original TV to her residence in a suburb of Kaneshie showed that the former national star is living in a makeshift wooden structure supported by an advertising banner.

But what pushed Memunatu Sulemana to this condition?

Memunatu said though she made money while playing active football, it was not like now where club football also pays well. According to her, her dependence on the money from her appearance for the national team meant she had to always borrow for her upkeep and spent nearly all her earnings repaying debts.

She added that her grandmother who was suffering from diabetes was also her main responsibility which meant that all the drugs and medical bills of her grandmother were taken care of by her. That according to her has contributed to her poor life post football.