Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has been selected among 13 international football stars for the second edition of FIFA’s Player Impact Programme, an initiative designed to empower footballers to use their influence to drive positive social change in their communities.
Ajibade is among the first 11 players who gathered in Boston, Massachusetts, in June for a three-day Impact Accelerator Workshop aimed at equipping participants with the knowledge, resources and skills to develop sustainable social impact projects.
The programme, which builds on a female-only pilot launched in 2025, has expanded to include its first male participant, former India international Sunil Chhetri, reflecting FIFA’s ambition to extend the initiative’s reach across the global football community.
The Nigerian international joins an impressive list of participants featuring Spain’s FIFA Women’s World Cup winner Alexia Putellas, Brazil’s Gabi Nunes, Canada’s Jessie Fleming, England’s Michelle Agyemang and Zambia’s Racheal Kundananji.
Other participants are Casey Phair of Korea Republic, Japan’s Hina Sugita, France’s Kenza Dali, Mexico’s Maria Sanchez, United States goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce and New Zealand’s Rebekah Stott.
According to FIFA, the initiative seeks to help players transform their personal experiences, influence and resources into meaningful projects addressing social challenges, particularly in areas such as education, mental health and equal access to sport.
The participants began their nine-month journey with the workshop in Boston, where they shared personal experiences, discussed their ambitions and explored practical ways to turn their ideas into sustainable community projects.
The programme provides tailored guidance, expert support and access to resources through FIFA and an external specialist in sport for social impact.
FIFA said participants in the inaugural edition went on to establish foundations, launch football academies and partner with non-profit organisations to address challenges they had experienced during their playing careers.
FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis said footballers had an opportunity to create lasting legacies beyond their achievements on the pitch by using their platforms to influence communities positively.
“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. But one of the questions we should all ask ourselves is: what legacy are we leaving beyond the game?” Ellis said.
She added that the influence of modern footballers extended beyond the 90 minutes of a match, particularly through social media and other platforms that allow them to connect with supporters and inspire positive change.
Spain midfielder Putellas, who is also part of the programme, said she wanted to use her influence to create opportunities for girls who face financial, family or cultural barriers to participating in sport.
She explained that her proposed initiative was aimed at giving more girls access to football while helping them develop confidence, teamwork and a sense of belonging.
England and Arsenal forward Michelle Agyemang also highlighted the importance of the programme, saying it helped players understand the influence of their voices and the responsibility to support the communities that shaped them.
Former India captain Chhetri, the programme’s first male participant, welcomed the opportunity to learn alongside some of the world’s leading female footballers, stressing that social impact transcended gender.
The next phase of the initiative will take place in December, when participants are expected to gather in London and join virtual sessions to present their proposed projects to fellow participants.
Ajibade’s inclusion provides Nigeria with representation in a global initiative that seeks to extend the influence of football beyond the pitch, encouraging established players to use their platforms to create opportunities and address social challenges in their communities.
Full list of FIFA Player Impact Programme participants:
Alexia Putellas – Spain
Casey Phair – Korea Republic
Gabi Nunes – Brazil
Hina Sugita – Japan
Jessie Fleming – Canada
Kenza Dali – France
Maria Sanchez – Mexico
Michelle Agyemang – England
Phallon Tullis-Joyce – USA
Racheal Kundananji – Zambia
Rasheedat Ajibade – Nigeria
Rebekah Stott – New Zealand
Sunil Chhetri – India
