‘Will to Escape Poverty Pushed Me to Go All the Way’ – Super Falcons Captain Rasheedat Ajibade
For Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade, the journey to the top of African women’s football was never just about chasing trophies or playing in packed stadiums across Europe.
It began with a simple dream born out of hardship, the determination to change her family’s story.
Speaking during the Full Day with Rash programme organised by the Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation in Lagos, the Nigerian international reflected on the difficult circumstances that shaped her career and revealed that her biggest motivation was survival.
Ajibade explained that, contrary to what many may assume, her parents were not always able to accompany her to training or football centres while she was growing up.
She said it was not because they lacked interest in her dream, but because they were focused on earning a living for the family.
“In fairness to my mum, she wanted to support me,” Ajibade said. “In Nigeria, parents don’t really have the culture of going to sports centres with their children like you see in Europe. Also, we came from a less financially privileged family, so my parents were always working to provide for us. As a child, I simply had to go out and play football.”
The Paris’ Saint Germain forward said those challenging circumstances only strengthened her resolve to succeed.
“My motivation came from a place of survival,” she said. “I wanted to make a difference. I naturally loved football and started playing from the age of six. I realised I was good enough and that this talent could change my life and the lives of my family.”
Ajibade acknowledged the role her grassroots coaches played in keeping her dream alive. While there may not have been a single individual who pushed her throughout the journey, she credited her early coaches for believing in her abilities and encouraging her to keep improving.
“Our coaches did their best,” she said. “Some of them are here today. They encouraged us, developed us and kept pushing us to become better players. I am grateful for everything they did.”
Today, having established herself as one of Africa’s finest footballers and captain of the Super Falcons, Ajibade is determined to give others the opportunities she never had.
Through the Rasheedat Ajibade Foundation, she has sponsored 25 grassroots coaches for coaching and sports management courses at the National Institute for Sports in Lagos, while also supporting education and youth development initiatives.
For Ajibade, every act of giving back is a reminder of the difficult road she travelled—and proof that talent, when nurtured with opportunity and determination, can transform lives.
