Injuries are a common challenge for footballers, but Aisha Masaka has faced more than most in the past year.
The Tanzanian forward was set to play a key role at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco but had to withdraw from the squad due to a knee injury sustained during the Twiga Stars' preparations.
This setback came on top of a debut season with Brighton & Hove Albion Women in England’s Women’s Super League (WSL), where she was limited to only a few minutes of play due to injuries. She also spent five months on the sidelines with a serious shoulder injury just after making her WSL debut against Arsenal in November.
"It's not a good season for me," the 21-year-old admitted. "The WSL is a big step up for me, and I need more experience. I need to play to gain that."
Despite being forced to watch from the sidelines, Masaka’s teammates led Brighton to a historic fifth-place finish in the WSL, their best-ever performance.
As the first Tanzanian woman to play top-tier football in England, Masaka has gained valuable lessons from players like Fran Kirby and Nikita Parris, both of whom have been regular members of the Lionesses squad for many years.
“They’ve been really supportive and help young players like me,” she said. “They’ve taught me to be patient with injuries. My time will come, and I will shine.”
Lip-syncing to Diamond Platnumz
While Masaka describes her injury-ridden season as "tough," she emphasizes that it hasn't been mentally or emotionally overwhelming for her.
"I miss my family and friends back home," she shared, but added that the support from "good friends and staff" at Brighton has helped her feel less isolated. "They support me a lot, so it’s not really lonely."
Masaka, hailing from the Singida region of Tanzania, began her youth career at Alliance Academy before joining Yanga Princess in Dar es Salaam. She made the move to Europe in 2022, joining Swedish club Hacken, and later transferred to Brighton in July 2024.
Living abroad is not unfamiliar to her, and she stays connected to her roots through social media.
“I love social media for music and dancing,” she explained. “I love to dance. It makes me happy.”
With hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok, many of Masaka's posts feature her dancing or lip-syncing to hits from her favorite Tanzanian musicians like Diamond Platnumz and Rayvanny.
Although the majority of comments are positive, Masaka has learned to ignore the negative ones. "I don't answer negative comments," she said. "I just read them but don't care."
As an East African trailblazer in English football, Masaka’s profile has grown significantly in Tanzania, where women’s football is developing rapidly. "I inspire many players, many young girls now, because the level I reached is very high—a big step for anyone," she said. "Girls and boys see me as a role model."
Tanzania’s second appearance at Wafcon saw them finish at the bottom of their group, but they did earn their first-ever point in the tournament with a draw against South Africa. Masaka remains optimistic about the future of women’s football in Tanzania, pointing out the rapid growth of the sport. "Five years ago, no professional player from Tanzania played outside the country," she noted. "But now, there are many players overseas playing professionally."
Masaka used social media to announce her injury ahead of Wafcon, calling it "a huge pain" both physically and emotionally. However, she remains determined to return stronger. "I'm very proud, and I will work hard to prove that everything is possible," she said. "You can go far when you have a target and goals."
Although Masaka missed out on Wafcon, she is eager to get back on the pitch and continue her journey in the new season.