Rasheedat Busayo Ajibade, born December 8, 1999, better known as Rasheedat Ajibade, is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish Liga F club Atlético Madrid and the Nigeria women’s national team. Her friends affectionately call her “RASH,” a playful abbreviation of her first name.
Rasheedat Ajibade Bio:
| Full Name: | Rasheedat Busayo Ajibade |
| Date of Birth: | December 8, 1999 |
| Place of Birth: | Kaduna |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Occupation: | Footballer |
| Net Worth: | $4 million |
| Husband/Boyfriend: | Single |
Early Life and Education
Rasheedat Ajibade was born in Kaduna, Nigeria where she grew up and began playing football.
Before earning her spot in the senior team, Ajibade showcased her talent by representing Nigeria in various age grade competitions.
Her competitive debut for the senior team took place at the 2018 WAFU Cup held in Côte d’Ivoire. In recognition of her exceptional skills, Goal.com ranked her first in a prestigious top 10 list of the most promising young footballers on the African continent in 2017.
Club Career
From the 2013 Nigeria Women Premier League season until the 2018 season, Ajibade showcased her skills with FC Robo.
Her exceptional talents did not go unnoticed, and in 2014, she was recognized as one of the best young talents in the league.
Additionally, Ajibade displayed her versatility by winning the Nigerian women football freestyle competition two years in a row, in September 2018.
During the 2015 Nigeria Women Premier League week 2 games, Ajibade’s outstanding performances earned her a spot in the team of the week, compiled by Soccerladuma South Africa, even though her team faced defeat against Confluence Queens during the round of matches.
The 2017 Nigeria Women Premier League season brought a new milestone for Ajibade as she was appointed team captain of FC Robo. Throughout the season, she showcased her scoring prowess, contributing to Robo’s home win against Ibom Angels.
Despite the challenges faced by her team, Ajibade’s individual brilliance shone through, and in 2017, she was voted player of the season after scoring eight crucial goals that helped her team avoid relegation.
Her talent was further recognized at the Nigeria Pitch Awards, where she was nominated as the best player in the 2017 Nigeria Women Premier League.
In December 2018, news broke that Ajibade had signed a two-year contract with Norwegian side, Avaldsnes IL, a team that competes in the Toppserien.
She continued her impressive journey, and on January 1, 2021, Atletico Madrid announced the signing of Rasheedat Ajibade on a two-year deal.
Her achievements and contributions to the team were acknowledged once again in January 2022 when she extended her contract with Atletico Madrid for a further three years, until 2025.
International Career
Rasheedat Ajibade’s journey in representing Nigeria spans across various age levels, from under-17 to the senior national team.
In the African qualifiers leading to the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, Ajibade’s talent shone as she scored a brace in Nigeria’s first leg win against Namibia.
During the competition proper, she continued to impress, netting the winning goal in Nigeria’s opening game against China and another goal in the final group game against Mexico, leading the team to a quarter-final match with Spain.
Her progress continued as she was named in Coach Bala Nikiyu’s 21-man squad for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, donning jersey number 10.
As the team captain, Ajibade expressed determination to exceed their previous quarter-final finish in 2014.
She also played a crucial role in the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she was named the player of the match in the second group game against Canada.
In the quest for Africa’s representation at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, Ajibade’s brilliance was on full display.
She scored a brace in the first leg against Tanzania, contributing to Nigeria’s three-goal advantage before the return leg in Dar es Salaam.
In the return leg, Ajibade’s two goals were instrumental in Nigeria’s six-goal triumph against the home side, securing their spot in the World Cup in France.
Her contributions continued to shine in the inaugural edition of the WAFU Cup in Côte d’Ivoire in February 2018. Ajibade scored a remarkable hat-trick in the second group game, propelling Nigeria to the semi-finals with one game remaining.
Furthermore, Ajibade was an integral part of the 2018 African Nations Championship Nigeria women’s national football team, where they emerged as tournament champions.
In addition to her outstanding performances on the field, Ajibade showcased her leadership skills, captaining the Super Falcons for the first time in a friendly victory over Slovenian club Olimpija Lubijana in Vienna, Austria.
Her impressive journey and commitment to the national team led to her inclusion in the 23-player Nigerian squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, marking another milestone in her illustrious career.
Rasheedat Ajibade Net Worth
Rasheedat Ajibade is a popular Nigerian footballer who has made wealth through football with a net worth of $4 million.
Endorsements and Philanthropy
In the summer of 2020, Rasheedat Ajibade initiated the annual #StandOutWithRASH campaign, in collaboration with EaglesTracker, a prominent Nigerian athlete branding company.
This social media campaign aims to promote grassroots football talents in Nigeria. Through her social media platform, Rasheedat Ajibade provides visibility, encouragement, and rewards such as football boots, jerseys, and cash prizes to aspiring footballers who showcase their exceptional skills on the field.
In addition to the campaign, Rasheedat Ajibade also launched her official brand, RASH, which offers a unique merchandise collection available for purchase by her fans online.
The brand is actively engaged in various initiatives within Nigeria, further contributing to the development and support of football enthusiasts in the country.
Rasheedat Ajibade was unveiled as a brand ambassador for Pluralcode and later initiated the RASHxPluralcode Tech Scholarship in March 2023.
The scholarship program is a partnership with Pluralcode Academy, offering free tech training in UI/UX design and Web Development to 60 Nigerians every year.
Personal Life
Rasheedat Ajibade is single. She is not married to anyone and does not have a well-known boyfriend either.
