Ajibade selected for FIFA Player Impact Programme

Rasheedat Ajibade, captain of Nigeria's Super Falcons women's football team, has been chosen to take part in the second cohort of FIFA's Player Impact Programme. Alongside 12 other distinguished international footballers, Ajibade will join a nine-month initiative aimed at leveraging players' influence and resources to promote social change outside the sport.

The programme brings together football stars from 13 different countries, who collaborate to create and implement social impact projects addressing issues within their communities.

Ajibade has already demonstrated her commitment to empowering female footballers through her Rash Hygiene Hub initiative, which focuses on raising awareness about hygiene, mental health, and personal health education in Nigeria. This program has successfully completed three phases in Lagos, reaching over 600 grassroots female footballers by providing them with hygiene kits and health education.

Participating in FIFA's Player Impact Programme will enable Ajibade to further develop her initiatives, benefiting from expert guidance, shared experiences, and resources available through the global platform. This is not Ajibade's first opportunity to engage in such an initiative, as she has also championed social causes through her foundation.

The second cohort of the FIFA Player Impact Programme has already held its first major engagement, with 11 of the 13 participants convening in Boston in June for a three-day Impact Accelerator Workshop.

The programme builds upon the success of its female-only pilot in 2025, and this year's cohort also includes the first male participant, former India captain Sunil Chhetri. The other members of the cohort include players from Spain, South Korea, Brazil, Japan, Canada, France, Mexico, England, the United States, Zambia, and New Zealand.

FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis emphasized the importance of football personalities using their influence to create meaningful change beyond their accomplishments on the pitch. During the three-day workshop, participants shared their personal journeys and project ambitions through group discussions, practical exercises, and expert-led sessions.

The programme aims to equip these players with the skills, resources, and professional guidance necessary to transform their ideas into sustainable projects that benefit their communities.