The Rwanda Football Federation (FERWAFA) has suspended its women’s national team head coach Grace Nyinawumuntu for making controversial comments about their Ghanaian rivals following her team’s defeat.

Nyinawumuntu, the coach in question, suggested that the Ghanaian players were exceptionally strong and likened them to men in the context of their physical prowess.

She attributed her team’s 7-0 loss in a Women’s African Cup of Nations (AWFCON) qualifier in Kigali on Wednesday to intimidation by the Ghanaian team.

“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, ” she said.

In response, FERWAFA issued a statement confirming the suspension of the coach “until further notice” due to her “inappropriate choice of words” following the match between Rwanda and Ghana.

The federation said “the comments made by the national women’s team coach regarding the Ghanaian players violated the principles and values of Rwandan football. “We remind members of FERWAFA to desist from behaviour and remarks that are not aligned with the truth, have no factual basis and are not professional,” the federation warned.

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Grace Nyinawumuntu, who became Rwanda’s first female professional football coach in 2014 after a successful playing career, had previously been suspended as the head coach of AS Kigali Women in 2017 due to allegations of sexual harassment made by her team’s players.

She subsequently took legal action and was awarded $47,000 in damages after winning her wrongful dismissal case.

She assumed the role of head coach of the national women’s football team in June 2023. Three months later, she is in hot soup, again.