Bernadette Amani 'living her dream' at Bayern Munich

Bernadette Amani, a 28-year-old midfielder, is living her dream at Bayern Munich, having secured both the Bundesliga and German Cup titles in her initial half-season with the club. The Ivory Coast national team captain, who recently won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, expressed her gratitude in an exclusive interview with DW, stating that joining Bayern Munich has been a significant achievement in her career.

Amani, who previously played for CD Tenerife Femenino in Liga F, Spain's top division, noted that the coaching staff at Bayern Munich is more extensive, enabling her to maintain a high level of performance. She emphasized that the experience of her teammates and the coaching staff has contributed to her development, helping her learn aspects such as positioning, body positioning, and ball interaction.

Her journey to Bayern Munich was not straightforward. Growing up in a village, she had no initial interest in football, and her parents were more focused on her education. However, visiting a women's football match in 2019 changed her perspective, as she witnessed the intensity and skill of the game. This sparked her passion, leading to her securing a trial with Onze Soeurs de Gagnoa and eventually playing for Liga F teams Eibar and Tenerife.

Despite reaching the pinnacle of her career, Amani remains focused on maintaining her lead at Bayern Munich, despite a disappointing Women's Africa Cup of Nations for her national team. She acknowledged that while being part of a successful club is rewarding, the challenge lies in sustaining that success. As Bayern prepares to defend their Women's Bundesliga title against Union Berlin, Amani is once again at the Bayern Munich bench, ready to contribute to their ongoing success.