At a Glance
- Masaka is the first Tanzanian woman to play in England’s Women’s Super League.
- She launched the AKM Foundation to empower African girls through football and education.
- Scored nine goals in 16 caps, leading Tanzania to WAFCON 2024 qualification success.
Aisha Masaka is not just making history—she’s building a legacy. At just 21, the forward became the first Tanzanian to play in England’s Women’s Super League (WSL) with Brighton & Hove Albion. But her influence stretches far beyond the pitch.
With an emerging foundation focused on gender equality and youth development, Masaka is shaping a future where talent meets purpose—and where girls across Africa see sport as a viable, empowered path.
Masaka’s rise reflects not only personal determination but a wider shift in the visibility and viability of African women in global football. From scoring in Europe’s Champions League to launching her AKM Foundation to promote social change, she’s become one of Tanzania’s most compelling international figures.
From Mwanza’s streets to Europe’s elite stage
Masaka’s journey began in the lakeside city of Mwanza, where she first kicked a ball on dusty streets against the backdrop of resistance. “Parents, especially in Africa, find it difficult to allow their girls to play football,” she recalls. Her own family was no exception.
But she won them over after securing a place at the Alliance Academy—a hybrid institution combining academics with elite football training.
Her time at Alliance set her on a clear path. She moved to Yanga Princess, the female affiliate of Young Africans, Tanzania’s most decorated club. It was here that her goal-scoring prowess caught national attention. In 2020, at just 17, she netted 10 goals to lead Tanzania to victory at the Cosafa U-17 Championship in South Africa—earning the Golden Boot and attracting interest from Europe.
The leap to Europe—and to history
That breakout tournament led to a professional contract with BK Häcken in Sweden, where Masaka debuted in the 2022–23 UEFA Women’s Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain. It was a defining moment: a Tanzanian footballer on Europe’s biggest stage. Over two seasons, she scored five goals in 14 appearances, before transferring to Brighton in the summer of 2024.
Though her WSL debut was cut short by a shoulder injury just minutes into her first match, Masaka turned adversity into opportunity. During her five-month recovery, she formalized the vision behind her AKM Foundation, which launched in May 2025 with an all-star charity match aimed at tackling poverty and promoting female participation in sports.
Changing the narrative through visibility and voice
Masaka’s accomplishments have made her a national icon. In June 2025, she was named Tanzania’s Female Athlete of the Year by the National Sports Council, in recognition of both her sporting record—nine goals in 16 caps—and her impact off the field. She was also part of the Tanzanian squad that qualified for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon), marking only the second time the country has reached the prestigious tournament.
Now, Tanzania finds itself grouped with continental heavyweights South Africa, Ghana, and Mali. “The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is so special for me because there I represent the country,” says Masaka. “My dream is to get to the quarter-finals.”
Ambitions at home and abroad
Masaka is not stopping at Wafcon. She’s vocal about her ambitions with Brighton, aiming for a top-four finish and another shot at Champions League football. But her broader goal is to open doors for others. “The players in Tanzania look at me and say: if she plays in a top league with big players, then we can do it too,” she says.
Her impact is tangible. Since her WSL debut, Brighton has seen a surge in Tanzanian support—something Masaka jokes about, but takes seriously. “Definitely,” she laughs when asked if her country is now full of Brighton fans. “It’s important because now they believe it’s possible.”
Football with a future in mind
Masaka’s AKM Foundation is just the start. With a focus on social change through sport, the foundation plans to offer scholarships, youth academies, and mentorship programs. Her long-term vision includes a fully-fledged sports development center in Mwanza, providing training, education, and career pathways for girls.
As one of the few African women playing in Europe’s top league, Masaka carries the weight of representation—but she wears it with pride. “Football gave me a platform,” she says. “Now I want to use it to create change—not just for me, but for the next girl who’s told ‘no.’”
