Ghanaian women's football coach Yusif Basigi has embarked on a new chapter in his coaching career, signing a one-year contract with Tanzanian giants Simba Queens.

Basigi, known for his success with Hasaacas Ladies and the Ghana national teams, arrived in Dar es Salaam over the weekend to officially begin his tenure with the Tanzanian club.

Simba Queens had shown interest in Basigi two years ago, but the coach, committed to reclaiming the Malta Guinness Women’s Premier League title for Hasaacas Ladies, declined their offer at the time.

However, after persistent interest from the club and a desire to explore new challenges, Basigi finally accepted the offer.

In an interview with Graphic Sports, Basigi revealed that after two years of pressure from Simba Queens, it felt like the right time to make the move.

"It is not often that you get clubs trying to sign coaches from outside their home country. For two years, they have been knocking hard on my door, and each time I declined because of my commitment to club and country,” he explained.

The turning point came after his recent return from Colombia, where Ghana’s Under-20 women’s team, the Black Princesses, were eliminated in the group stage of their competition.

With renewed interest from Simba Queens, Basigi weighed his options and decided to take the next step in his career, saying, “After careful consideration and weighing the options, I have decided to give it a try.”

Basigi’s departure marks the end of a remarkable era with Hasaacas Ladies, a club he has been with since its inception in 2003.

Under his leadership, the team rose to prominence as one of Ghana's most successful women's football clubs, winning five Women’s Premier League titles, an FA Cup, and the First Lady’s Cup.

Internationally, Basigi led Hasaacas Ladies to a historic run in the inaugural CAF Women’s Champions League in 2021.

The club won the WAFU Zone B tournament and secured a silver medal in the Champions League, narrowly losing to South African side Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.

Despite their continental success, Hasaacas Ladies missed out on a second Champions League appearance after falling short in the WAFU competition.

In addition to his club success, Basigi has had a distinguished coaching career with Ghana’s national teams, including stints with both the Black Queens and Black Princesses. An educationist by profession, he is widely respected for his contributions to women's football in Ghana.

Basigi's move to Simba Queens is seen as a significant step in his coaching journey, as he takes on a new challenge in Tanzanian football.

The club will be hoping that his wealth of experience and proven track record of success will propel them to greater heights in women’s football.