Throughout 2025/26, we’ll be speaking to former West Ham United women’s team players who made a huge impact on and off the pitch during their time in Claret and Blue. Today, we’re talking to Hawa Cissoko.
A defender by trade, centre-half Hawa Cissoko showed the composure of a world-class No9 with a delightful dink over Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Becky Spencer in West Ham United women’s team’s 2-0 Women's Super League victory over their London rivals in December 2022.
It’s one of her favourite memories from her four seasons in Claret and Blue. She finds herself watching back the goal to this day, smiling as she sees her teammates waste no time in joining her to celebrate what was her first league goal for the Club.
The France international, who signed for the Hammers in the summer of 2020, scored arguably a more important goal a season later. You remember it. The winning strike in the Irons’ first-ever victory against Arsenal that brought the house down at Chigwell Construction Stadium.
Both goals against our London rivals came after Cissoko played a leading role in the 2021/22 season, making 19 league appearances as Olli Harder’s side achieved a sixth-place finish in the WSL - the highest the Club has ever finished.
But whilst Cissoko eventually thrived, becoming vice-captain in the summer of 2022, she had to overcome barriers in her first campaign in east London.
The then 23-year-old, who joined from ASJ Soyaux in her native France, arrived without much English to speak of and suffered an injury that required surgery just a few months into her West Ham career. Throw adapting to life in a new country during the COVID-19 pandemic into the mix as well - Cissoko had to show resilience.
‘I know why I’m here and I can’t give up’, is what Cissoko told herself every day and she battled through the tough times. After a difficult first season, she flourished on the pitch with her infectious personality, and went on to enjoy an unforgettable time at West Ham.
Cissoko departed east London in 2024 having made 84 appearances in all competitions, making her the Club’s sixth-highest appearance maker in the WSL era. Subsequently, she made the move to Italian side AS Roma, where she played with current West Ham left-back Verena Hanshaw, and struck up a great friendship with the Austria international.
A year later, Cissoko joined fellow Serie A Femminile outfit Parma, and she spoke to us just days after her move.
A fans' favourite and much-loved character in the changing room, Cissoko still feels the love from the Hammers faithful - and that love is reciprocated. Born in Paris, she may have played for her local side Paris Saint-Germain, but West Ham United will always be the ‘Club of her life’.
It’s 20 July 2020 and you’ve just signed for West Ham United. How were you feeling when you made the move?
“I was excited, happy and a little bit nervous! At this time, my English was really poor. To even have a basic conversation was really hard. But luckily, Kenza Dali was at the Club at the same time, so she helped me a lot with translations - she didn’t have a choice!”
It seems like you settled in really quickly?
“I did, but at a club like West Ham, that’s really easy. They were happy to welcome new players and after one week I was already at home. And every player who joined had the same feeling.”
What memories do you have of your first season at the Club?
“My first season was quite complicated because I got injured straight away. I got it in a pre-season friendly and I had to have surgery, missing the first part of the season. We had the COVID-19 pandemic as well, so I couldn’t go home to see my family. I played my first 90 minutes in the WSL in April 2021, so for a player it was very hard!
“I ended up talking to myself a lot, telling myself, ‘I know why I’m here, and I can’t give up because I have a lot of people behind me who see me as a role model, and I can’t disappoint them’. I couldn’t give up.”
But your second season at the Club couldn’t have been more different!
“I started to speak English, so it was easier to express myself. You feel more part of the team, and that helped me be better on the pitch. I showed the coach (Olli Harder) he could count on me and that I’d do everything for the team.”
2021/22 was the highest-ever finish we’ve had in the WSL. How does it feel to be part of the Club’s history?
“That’s actually so nice! I’m not going to lie, this is the Club of my life. I was born in Paris, I played for PSG and they will always be in my heart, but what I feel for West Ham, I will never feel this for any other club. Being part of the history of the Club is a pure joy.
“Some opponents on the pitch were shocked with the way we played [that season]. They said we were hard to beat. They didn’t come to West Ham thinking they were going to win. They had to work hard and play well if they were going to win.”
The following summer you were appointed vice-captain, alongside skipper Mackenzie Arnold. How special was that for you?
“It was part of my personality. I’m not scared to speak, I’m not shy, I help everyone. I was really proud to be named vice-captain, especially when I saw the fans were also happy about the decision. I thought, ‘I’m a girl of this Club!’.
“Me and Mackenzie worked well together because we see football in the same way, so it was really easy.”
We can’t not talk about that chip against Tottenham in December 2022!
“That’s funny because last week I actually watched the goal again! I have so many feelings about the goal. The best memory of the goal is the way you see the team celebrate together. It’s not even the goal, it’s just the way everyone was so happy for me!
“The feeling when I scored was crazy! I just ran straight to Viviane Asseyi because she was so happy for me. We couldn’t stop laughing. When I arrived in front of the goalkeeper, I thought, ‘What am I supposed to do now?’. Scoring wasn’t my job! I just tried this flick and it went into the net.
“You arrive somewhere and then you leave something in people’s hearts for life, and for me that’s the most important thing.”
And then you scored against Arsenal...
“The goal was actually a tactic. The coach (Rehanne Skinner) said that Arsenal were a bit sloppy in that area, and she told me to do a fake movement. Then if I had a second ball, I would be free. And I was! It was a team goal, the win was for everyone.
“There was a young journalist from Paris at the game, and they said if I scored I had to celebrate with them. I said 'yes', but I didn’t think that I was going to score! So when I scored, I went to celebrate with the team but I forgot about the journalist. I then remembered, so went to celebrate with them as well and looked like someone who didn’t want to stop celebrating their goal!
“The game made history. It was the first time that West Ham had beaten Arsenal in the WSL, and that made me really proud because I knew that I would be in the Club’s history forever.”
How special was your connection with the fans?
“It was so nice. I don’t think I’ll find anything like this ever again. Some still message me now and show me a lot of love. I love them a lot, they are the best fans I’ve ever met.
“I grew as a woman and a player during my time at the Club. I learned a lot about myself: to manage your emotions, that you can be a good teammate even if you don’t play. It was a big part of my life. It was the part of my life that I became a woman.”
You played with Verena Hanshaw at Roma. Do you still keep in contact with her?
“All the time! We speak a lot and she was my best friend at Roma. She’s doing so well.
“I watch every West Ham game when I can. One of my favourites is Shekiera Martinez, she’s so good! I thought Anouk Denton was great last season too!”
