Nigerian captain Rasheedat Ajibade has been selected as one of 13 international football stars for the second edition of FIFA’s Player Impact Programme, an initiative aimed at empowering footballers to use their influence to drive positive social change in their communities.

Ajibade is among the first 11 participants who gathered in Boston, Massachusetts, in June for a three-day Impact Accelerator Workshop designed to equip players with the knowledge, resources and skills needed 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, as FIFA seeks to extend the initiative’s reach across the global football community.

The Nigerian joins an impressive list of participants, including 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 is designed to help players transform their personal experiences, influence and resources into meaningful projects that address social challenges, particularly in education, mental health and equal access to sport.

The participants began a nine-month journey with the Boston workshop, where they shared personal experiences, discussed their ambitions and explored practical ways to turn their ideas into sustainable community projects.

The programme offers tailored guidance, expert support and access to resources through FIFA and an external specialist in sport for social impact.

FIFA noted that participants in the inaugural edition went on to establish foundations, launch football academies and partner with non-profit organisations to tackle challenges they had experienced during their playing careers.

FIFA Chief Football Officer Jill Ellis said footballers had an opportunity to build lasting legacies beyond their achievements on the pitch by using their platforms to positively influence communities.

“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 modern footballers’ influence extended beyond the 90 minutes of a match, particularly through social media and other platforms that enable them to connect with supporters and inspire positive change.

Putellas said she hoped to use her influence to create opportunities for girls who face financial, family or cultural barriers to participating in sport. Her proposed initiative seeks to improve access to football while helping girls develop confidence, teamwork and a sense of belonging.

Agyemang also highlighted the importance of the programme, saying it helps players understand the influence of their voices and their responsibility to support the communities that shaped them.

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 transcends gender.

The next phase of the initiative is scheduled for December, when participants are expected to meet in London and take part in virtual sessions to present their proposed projects to fellow participants.

Ajibade’s selection gives Nigeria representation in a global initiative that seeks to extend football’s influence 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