In The Journey to the Cup, The Athletic follows six players as they work towards a place in the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Follow along as we check in with them each month in the build-up to the tournament, tracking their progress as they prepare both mentally and physically for a chance to shine on the game’s biggest stage.
Respect and a large family: these are the two things people need to be aware of if they are to understand France international Hawa Cissoko.
The West Ham defender, 25, was born in Paris and is one of 15 children — the oldest is 42, the youngest just six months. Cissoko grew up in a flat with five rooms and, until the age of 18, would share one with three of her siblings, one person per bed.
“I never had a big bed for myself,” she tells The Athletic. “When we travel (as a team) and people complain about tiny beds, for me, it’s just normal.
“It was nice to be with a lot of people at home, just playing. Even if I was with a lot of people, at the same time I was by myself, making my own decisions, doing what I want. I didn’t even ask people for their opinion. I did things because I believed it was good for me.
“I made a lot of mistakes but my mistakes are mine. I can’t blame other people. My glory is my glory. People can’t take this away from…
