FIFA, football’s global administration organisation, has announced the appointment of Aisha Falode, journalist and Nigeria’s foremost female football administrator to its Media Committee.
Aisha has had an engaging relationship with Nigerian football, where she has made a name from her unwavering commitment to the steady progress of the women’s game.
From her early days as a young student-athlete, Aisha Falode’s remarkable journey in sports, specifically football, was marked by her firm commitment and invaluable contributions. In her roles as a sports reporter and in football administration, Falode has left indelible marks on the Nigerian sports landscape, and globally.
In 1996, she was a sports reporter for African Independent Television (AIT), Falode swiftly ascended to positions of sports anchor, director, producer, and channel manager, captivating audiences and colleagues with her expertise and unwavering passion for the game in a predominantly male-dominated industry.
Falode became a football administration with these roles:
Member, Women Football Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (2002-2004)
First woman CAF Media Committee Member(2002-2017)
Member, Interim Management Committee, Nigeria Premier Football League (2005-2007)
Chairperson, NFF Media Committee (2007-2010)
Chairperson, Media Committee, FIFA U-17 World Cup (Nigeria 2009) International Press Officer, FIFA Confederations Cup (2009)
Director of Competitions, Aisha Buhari Cup (2021).
Her impact expanded to sports business when she founded MSports in 2002, establishing her as a more prominent personality in sports marketing and management.
Falode’s expertise, experience, and leadership in previous roles positioned her to be appointed as the General Coordinator for Nigeria’s Women National Teams (2011-2014), overseeing and coordinating their activities.
In 2017 she became the Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) and spearheaded initiatives that enhanced the League’s competitiveness and financial stability, with a vision to evolve it into a globally recognised league brand.
She is also a CAF Match Commissioner.
As a vocal advocate for the advancement of women throughout her illustrious career, the League under her leadership floated the SHOW YOUR OTHER SIDE project for women footballers in partnership with LA LIGA as well as advocated against gender-based violence with the UN Women SAFE HOME Campaign, and partnered with the International Organisation for Migration, in the campaign against Illegal Migration.
Falode was appointed to the Executive Committee, Nigeria Football Federation (2017-2022) as the first woman and was duly elected to the same committee (2022-2026). This election reflects her ability to drive positive change in Nigerian football.
Her passion, knowledge, and uncommon leadership in Women Football space has brought her global recognition in Women Football Forum either as keynote speaker and/or panel discussions on Women Football Leadership.
Falode has attended many global courses on Women Football Leadership organised by FIFA, and CAF.
She continues to inspire and mentor younger girls to see the possibilities in their abilities, with football, and beyond football.
Her dedication, administrative progression, and her passion for the women’s game have taken her from a highly respected figure in Nigerian football to the global table of the game.
