She Played With the Boys in Lagos, Now Super Falcons Captain: The Rasheedat Ajibade OON Football Story

This week's podcast is with Rasheedat Ajibade OON, a powerhouse in Nigerian and world football. Captain of the Super Falcons, forward for PSG Féminines, and one of the most exciting players in the women's game today.

From playing street football with boys in Lagos to lifting trophies in Europe and leading Nigeria to a record 10th WAFCON title in 2025, Rasheedat brings an extraordinary first-hand perspective on what it truly takes to make it as a female professional footballer in Nigeria.

From the realities of growing up in Lagos with big dreams and limited pathways, to the mindset and resilience required to captain your country on the world's biggest stages, Rasheedat breaks down the roadmap for the next generation of Nigerian football stars.

Inside the Episode:

The Lagos Streets: How Rasheedat fell in love with football playing with boys in her neighbourhood and found her path to the professional game.

The Youth Journey: Representing Nigeria's U17 and U20 teams as captain, and what those formative years taught her about leadership and sacrifice.

The Leap to Europe: Securing her first professional contract in Norway and the courage it took to leave home and build a career abroad.

Rising Through the Game: From Spain's Copa de la Reina to PSG — how Rasheedat kept raising her own bar at every level.

Captaining Nigeria: Leading the Super Falcons at the 2024 Paris Olympics and to a historic 2025 WAFCON title, where she was named Player of the Competition.

What It Really Takes: The mindset, faith, and resilience needed to rise from street football in Lagos to the pinnacle of world football, and what that means for young girls in Nigeria today.

"Leadership, for me, is about selflessness. It's about putting myself on the line, prioritising the team's needs above my own. It's about service." -Rasheedat Ajibade OON

Connect with Rasheedat Ajibade:
🌐 Website: https://www.rasheedatajibade.com/
📋 Newsletter: https://super-falcons-mission-x.kit.com/
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rasheedatt10/
▶ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rasheedatajibade

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This week's podcast, is with Sarah Solémalé, a powerhouse in the world of sports law and international affairs.

With over 15 years of experience at FIFA, CAF, and European Football Clubs, Sarah brings an unparalleled insider's perspective on what it takes to govern the world's most popular sport.

From the technicalities of legal strategy to the "leap of faith" required to break into the Football Industry, Sarah breaks down the roadmap for the next generation of football leaders.

• The Lawyer's Toolkit: The essential skills you need to thrive in the complex world of sports law.

• The Leap of Faith: How to navigate the early stages of a career in football and stay resilient.

• Policy meets Ethics: Sarah shares how robust sports policy and ethical leadership must work in tandem to evolve football governance.

• The Growth of the Women's Game: Why women's football represents the most exciting frontier for the sport's future.

• Empowering Women in Football: Practical advice for women looking to pursue their ambitions in the fotball industry with confidence and much more.

• LinkedIn: Sarah Solémalé

• Instagram: @sf_solemale

"Football governance isn't just about rules; it's about the ethical leadership behind them."

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The Architect of the Modern Men's English Premier League: Richard Scudamore CBE

This week's podcast, is with Richard Scudamore CBE, the visionary who sat at the helm of the Men's English Premier League from 1999 to 2018.

Over his nearly two-decade tenure, Richard didn't just manage football; he re-engineered the business of sport, overseeing a staggering increase in broadcasting rights and global reach.

In this podcast chat, we trace Richard's journey from the Yellow Pages to the ultimate boardroom, uncovering the leadership philosophy and tactical "pillars" that sustained the league's golden era.

In this episode, we explore:

• What skills do you need to be a CEO for a Football League?

• Richards shares how he went from the Yellow Pages to being the CEO of the English Premier League

• Richard explain's the 3 pillars to run a successful Football Club

• The Rise of the Underdog, a look at AFC Bournemouth, why their ascent remains one of the Premier League's most iconic football stories.

• Richard reflects on how his leadership style evolved to meet the demands of a rapidly changing digital and commercial landscape and much more.

Lead in the shadows with the power of role models

Joanna is a former USWNT star and the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired. Beyond her 16-year professional soccer career, she is a global keynote speaker and the author of Raising Tomorrow's Champions.

In this episode, we explore:

• How role models bridge the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

• Joanna's journey of turning the professional football dream into a reality against the odds.

• How to create a winning team chemistry in soccer and business?

• How playing alongside Crystal Dunn can ignite your own confidence and performance.

• Joanna shares how leading in the shadows with authenticity is a super power in soccer and business.

The Art Of A Goalkeeper: Trust, Pressure, and Ubuntu

In this episode, we explore the mental and emotional side of elite sport, including:

• The Goalkeeper's Journey: What first inspired Zala to step between the posts and pursue a professional career.

• Football as a Life Teacher: How the pitch serves as a classroom for essential life skills.

• The Power of Ubuntu: How the philosophy of "I am because we are" has transformed Al-Ittihad's team culture.

• Connection & Trust: Why building deep bonds off the pitch is the secret to defensive chemistry on it.

• Embracing the Unknown: Zala's advice on navigating career transitions and making bold choices.

• Thriving Under Pressure: A look inside the mind of a keeper who loves the high stakes of a penalty shootout and much more..

In this episode, we dive into:

• Breaking In: Practical advice for starting and scaling a career in the competitive sports industry.

• The Opportunity Equation: How to use "passion" and "problems" as the foundation for new ventures.

• The Dyslexia Advantage: Ed and Louise share personal stories on why dyslexia is a strategic strength rather than a weakness.

• The Future of Fandom: Louise discusses her philosophy of Dyslexic Thinking and how Vupop is revolutionizing fan engagement and content creation.

Podcast Show Notes:

In this episode, we dive into:

• How Trust Really Gets Built in Teams: How vulnerable conversations and even on‑pitch arguments can strengthen trust instead of breaking it.

• Resilience Through Injury, Loneliness, and Letting Go of Outcomes: Ashleigh's achilles recovery journey and choosing long‑term health over the Olympics.

• Redefining Confidence: Why Ashleigh doesn't chase "confidence" and instead leans on intuition and honesty.

• Ubuntu in Jeddah: Applying ancient wisdom to Al Ittihad's team culture.

• Leadership as Service, Not Status: What she learned from captains like Rasheedat Ajibade OON, and how 'service leadership' and collective belief helped the Super Falcons come back from 2–0 down to win the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations to achieve Mission X.

• The "Be True" Legacy: The vision behind the Ashleigh Plumptre Foundation, with "Be True" philosophy and much more.

Curiosity Over Ego and the New Standard for Human Performance

This week's podcast special guest is Louis Harington, a world-class Human Performance Coach supporting athletes, coaches, and business leaders globally.

Louis's mission is to drive sustainable cultural change, helping individuals and organizations achieve true excellence through authenticity. He guides his clients to confront their fears and unlock their potential, without being consumed by the pursuit.

In this episode, we dive into:

• The Power of Patience: Why playing the long game is vital for career development.

• Male Allyship: Why education is the foundation for men working in women's football.

• Curiosity vs. Ego: How your mindset dictates your performance.

• The Language of Leadership: Why words are your most powerful communication tool.

• High Performance in Action: Louis shares insights from his work with Professional Footballer Ashleigh Plumptre OON & much more..