Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has been selected for the second cohort of FIFA’s Player Impact Programme, joining 12 other international football stars in an initiative designed to empower players to use their influence and resources to drive positive social change beyond the pitch.

The nine-month programme brings together players from 13 countries to develop social impact projects that address challenges in their communities.

Ajibade has been championing hygiene, mental health and personal health education among grassroots female footballers in Nigeria through the Rash Hygiene Hub, an initiative of the Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation.

The initiative has completed three phases in Lagos, benefiting more than 600 grassroots female footballers from different clubs with hygiene kits and health education aimed at improving their wellbeing both on and off the pitch.

Her participation in the FIFA programme provides an opportunity to further develop such initiatives through expert guidance, shared experiences and resources available on the global platform.

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

Following the opening workshop, participants are scheduled to reconvene in London and virtually in December to present their projects and advance their respective impact journeys.

The programme builds on the success of its female-only pilot in 2025, with this year’s cohort expanding its reach to include its first male participant, former India captain Sunil Chhetri.

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Other members of the cohort include Spain’s Alexia Putellas, South Korea’s Casey Phair, Brazil’s Gabi Nunes, Japan’s Hina Sugita, Canada’s Jessie Fleming, France’s Kenza Dali, Mexico’s Maria Sanchez, England’s Michelle Agyemang, United States goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce, Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji and New Zealand’s Rebekah Stott.

FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis, who met the participants in Boston, said football personalities had an opportunity to use their influence to create meaningful change beyond their achievements on the pitch.

“As players and coaches, we spend our careers building a legacy through what we do on the pitch: the big save, the match-winning goal, the last-ditch tackle,” Ellis said.

“But one of the questions we should all ask ourselves is: what legacy are we leaving beyond the game?

“Today we have a reach that extends far beyond 90 minutes. Through social media and the platforms available to us, we have an incredible opportunity not only to connect with fans, but to influence communities, create opportunities for others and drive meaningful change. That’s the kind of impact that lasts well beyond the final whistle.”

During the three-day workshop, participants shared their personal journeys and project ambitions through group discussions, practical exercises and expert-led sessions.

The programme is designed to equip them with the skills, resources and professional guidance required to turn their ideas into sustainable projects that benefit their communities.

Source: Punch · Abiodun Adewale

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