Rasheedat Ajibade Recalls Playing in Nigerian League for 10 Years Without Salary
- Rasheedat Ajibade has revealed she played in the Nigerian Women’s Football League for 10 years without a salary
- The Super Falcons captain shared details of her humble beginnings and side hustles before stardom
- Ajibade led Nigeria to win its 10th Women’s African Cup of Nations title and was crowned best player of the tournament
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Rasheedat Ajibade’s journey to becoming the captain of the Super Falcons is nothing short of remarkable.
Born and raised in Lagos, the 25-year-old came through the ranks of FC Robo Queens, one of Nigeria’s most prominent women’s football teams.
Source: Getty Images
Ajibade joined the side as a young girl and remained there for 10 years before securing a move to Europe.
But behind the glory was a struggle that few could imagine as the Super Falcons captain recently revealed she played in the Nigerian women’s league for 10 years without earning a salary, The Cable reports.
“During that phase when I was in Nigeria and playing the professional league with FC Robo Queens, it was really a tough moment for me. I played there for 10 years without a salary,” Ajibade revealed in a forthcoming episode of With Chude, hosted by Chude Jideonwo.
Despite not earning a salary throughout her stay in the Nigerian women’s league, Ajibade’s passion for the game never dwindled.
Her dedication eventually earned her a move to Norway’s Avaldsnes IL at the age of 17, marking the beginning of her professional career abroad.
In 2021, she joined Atletico Madrid Feminino, further cementing her place among Africa’s top football stars.
Today, Ajibade stands as an inspiration to young Nigerian girls aspiring to break barriers in football, proving that with perseverance and hard work, dreams can come true regardless of humble beginnings.
The hustle away from the football pitch
Before her breakthrough in football, life was far from easy for Ajibade.
The Super Falcons captain openly spoke about hawking bottles of olive oil and refreshments at deliverance programmes organised by the Mountain of Fire Miracle Ministry (MFM) to make ends meet.
Her financial struggles not only shape her resilience but also deepen her desire to succeed.
While balancing school, football training, and helping her family financially, Ajibade built the mental toughness that would later define her as a leader on and off the pitch.
Her move to Europe in 2018 was a turning point, but the lessons from her challenging years in Nigeria stayed with her.
They became the driving force behind her relentless work ethic and discipline in football.
Ajibade leads Nigeria to WAFCON title
Ajibade attained a major height in her career when she captained the Super Falcons to victory at the Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Source: Getty Images
The victory marked Nigeria’s 10th continental title, and Ajibade’s outstanding performances earned her the tournament’s best player award.
The team was also well recognised for their efforts in Morocco, as President Bola Tinubu rewarded each player with $100,000, a house in an estate in Abuja, and national honours.
Ajibade shares how she grew up
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Ajibade said she grew up in a compound that accommodated over 100 people while growing up in Mushin.
In a post on X, the 25-year-old explained that she worked washing toilets and bathrooms for various households to feed herself and help her family.
Source: Legit.ng
