As part of celebrating an inspiring figure in Nigerian women’s football, BukBer Communications brings you an exclusive conversation with Ayisat Yusuf — a former star of the Super Falcons, respected coach, and founder of the Ayisat Yusuf Football Academy and the SHEFOOTBALL Initiative.
On the occasion of her birthday, BukBer Communications is proud to spotlight the remarkable journey of Ayisat Yusuf — a woman whose passion for football has evolved from representing Nigeria on the pitch to shaping the future of young talents off it. In this exclusive interview, she opens up about her playing career, life beyond football, and her unwavering commitment to empowering the next generation of female footballers.
It is a story of dedication, resilience, and a lifelong mission to grow the beautiful game for girls in Nigeria and beyond.
BC: What does adding another year mean to you personally, power, peace, purpose, or all three?
AYISAT: Adding another year today means alignment for me. It is the power of experience, the peace of self-acceptance, and the clarity of purpose. At my age, I am no longer proving to myself, I am living fully in who I am.
BC: When you look back on your journey from Nigeria to Finland and back to empower young women, what moment feels like your turning point?
AYISAT: When I look back on my journey from Nigeria to Finland and back home to empower young women, the true turning point was not the day I boarded a plane or earned a certificate. It was the moment I realized that my story was bigger than me. Moving from Nigeria to Finland changed my world. In Finland, I encountered systems that worked, gender equality that was lived daily, and educational opportunities that opened my eyes to what was possible for women when given the right support. But the real shift happened one winter evening when I found myself reflecting deeply on the contrast between the opportunities around me and the limitations many young girls back home were still facing.
I remember asking myself, If I have seen what is possible, what responsibility do I carry? That question unsettled me and awakened me. The turning point came when I stopped seeing my relocation as personal advancement and started seeing it as PREPARATION; Preparation to return. Preparation to build. Preparation to serve. So my true turning point was not geographic, it was internal and intentional. It was the moment I understood that success is not measured by how far you go, but by how many you lift as you rise. That realization transformed my journey into a legacy.
BC: Who believed in you before the world did?
AYISAT: My mother. She saw strength in me long before I recognized it in myself. Her belief became the foundation of my confidence.
BC: What does younger Ayisat misunderstood about leadership that you now deeply understand?
AYISAT: I misunderstood leadership as visibility. I thought leadership meant being the most educated in the room, the most confident voice, the one with the answers. Coming from Nigeria and later experiencing the structured systems of Finland, I believed leadership was about proving competence, especially as a young African woman trying to earn her place. I thought I had to be strong all the time, speak firmly, and never show uncertainty. But now, I deeply understand that leadership is not about being seen ,it is about seeing others. It is about listening more than speaking. It is about creating space for others to grow, even if they outshine you. It is about influence, not control. Service, not status. I thought leadership required perfection but now I know leadership requires authenticity. I thought leadership meant carrying everything on my shoulders but now I understand it means building systems, nurturing people, and trusting teams. Most importantly, I now know that leadership is not about having power, it is about empowering others. Especially young women who only need someone to believe in them before they can believe in themselves.
BC: What are you unlearning at this stage?
AYISAT: I am unlearning the need to please everyone, the pressure to carry everything alone, and the belief that rest is weakness. I now understand that boundaries are strength.
BC: If your life were a football match, what minute are you right now? Is it kickoff, halftime or extra time?
AYISAT: If my life were a football match, I’m stepping into the second half strong and strategic. Kickoff was my early years in Nigeria full of energy, learning, and ambition. The first half included my time in Finland, where I gained perspective, discipline, and clarity.
Now, I’m playing smarter, not just harder. This season of my life is about impact, mentoring, and building a legacy. It’s not extra time; it’s the most purposeful half of the game.
BC: What has been your most difficult season and how did you coach yourself through it?
AYISAT: My most difficult season was the transition period between living in Finland and returning to Nigeria. It was a season of uncertainty, leaving stability, structure, and comfort to step into the unknown. I questioned myself, my timing, and even my vision. There were moments of doubt and loneliness. I coached myself through it by returning to my “why. I reminded myself that growth is uncomfortable, and purpose often requires sacrifice. I practiced discipline over emotion, faith over fear, and progress over perfection. That season stretched me, but it also strengthened me.
BC: Is there a dream you postponed in your 30s or 40s that you are now ready to pursue boldly?
AYISAT: Yes. There are dreams I placed on hold while building others ,especially dreams centered around personal fulfillment and legacy-building beyond the field. Now, I am ready to pursue them without hesitation and without apology.
BC: How do you want to be remembered 30 years from now when people speak about Ayisat Yusuf?
AYISAT: I want to be remembered as a woman who opened doors for others, who led with integrity, and who transformed lives beyond trophies and titles.
BC: What is the one word that defines your legacy?
AYISAT: IMPACT
BC: What would you tell women who fear aging?
AYISAT: Aging is not a loss, it is a privilege. Every line, every lesson, every scar is evidence that I survived, I grew and became wiser. So embrace it.
BC: Tenth Edition of your football initiative, what impact story still brings tears to your eyes?
AYISAT: At the tenth edition of our football initiative in Nigeria, one impact story still brings tears to my eyes was a young girl who joined us shy, withdrawn, and unsure of herself. She barely spoke and avoided eye contact. Football was just an activity for her at first,but over time, the field became her confidence ground. I remember the day she stood before everyone and spoke boldly about her dreams. Her mother later told me, “This program gave me my daughter back.” That moment reminded me that we are not just training players, we are rebuilding confidence, restoring identity, and rewriting futures. And that is why I do this work.
BC: Why do you believe sport is such a powerful tool for empowering young women especially in communities like Badagry?
AYISAT: I believe sports is a powerful tool for empowering young women because it builds confidence before it builds trophies. In communities like Badagry, many girls grow up with limitations placed on their voices, choices, and dreams. Sport changes that. On the field, a girl is not defined by background or stereotypes, she is defined by her strength, skill, teamwork, and courage and talent. Through sports, young women learn discipline, leadership, resilience, and how to handle both victory and defeat. They learn to speak up, take up space, and trust their abilities. The football pitch becomes more than a playing ground it becomes a training ground for life.
BC: What mindset shift did you try to instill first in the girls who join your initiative?
AYISAT: The first mindset shift I try to instill in the girls who join our initiative in Badagry is this: You are not limited. Many of them arrive believing they must shrink themselves, be quieter, dream smaller, expect less. I work to replace that belief with confidence and possibility. Before we train skills, we train identity. I want them to see themselves as capable, deserving, and powerful. Once a girl changes how she sees herself, her performance, her voice, and her ambition begins to rise naturally.
Everything starts in the mind. When she believes she can, she already has her first victory.
BC: Have you ever had a young girl doubt herself so deeply that it almost break your heart? What happened?
AYISAT: Yes. There was a girl in our Badagry program who constantly said, “I’m not good enough.” One day, after missing a goal, she walked off the field in tears. I reminded her that growth is about persistence, not perfection, and showed her how far she had come. Over time, she gained confidence and even encouraged others. What broke my heart at first became one of my proudest moments.
BC: What is the biggest barrier Nigerian girls in sports still face today?
AYISAT: The biggest barrier Nigerian girls in sports today is mindset. both their own and society’s. Many girls grow up believing sports aren’t for them, or that their dreams are secondary to traditional expectations. At the same time, societal stereotypes often discourage them from pursuing athletics seriously. Overcoming this requires not just access to training, but consistent mentorship, encouragement, and spaces where girls can see themselves as capable and deserving. Sports alone can’t erase barriers, but it can spark the confidence to challenge them.
BC: If the government gave you full support for one sports development policy for girls, what would it be?
AYISAT: If the government gave me full support for one sports development policy for girls, it would be a comprehensive grassroots program that integrates sports, mentorship, and education. I would ensure every girl has access to safe facilities, trained coaches, and regular competitions no matter what her community or background. Alongside that, mentorship programs would help build confidence, leadership, and life skills. The goal wouldn’t just be producing athletes, but empowered young women who see themselves as capable, confident, and limitless on and off the field.
BC: How has living in Finland shaped your leadership style and coaching philosophy?
AYISAT: Living in Finland has shaped my leadership and coaching profoundly.
In Finland, I saw a culture that values equality, collaboration, and listening as much as speaking. Decisions weren’t about authority, they were about inclusion and trust. That taught me that leadership is less about being in front and more about creating space for others to grow. In my coaching, I bring that philosophy home: I focus on empowering young women to discover their own voice, make decisions, and lead themselves. It’s about guidance, not control, and nurturing confidence as much as skill.
BC: What lessons from Nigeria do you think Europe needs to learn about resilience and talents?
AYISAT: Europe could learn a lot from Nigeria about resilience and untapped talent. In Nigeria, young people especially girls face challenges that test their resourcefulness every day. Despite limited resources, they find ways to innovate, persist, and excel. Their creativity, grit, and determination often exceed what structured systems can teach. Europe could benefit from valuing adaptability, courage, and the power of turning obstacles into opportunities.
BC: What cultural difference have influenced how you train and mentor young women?
AYISAT: Cultural differences between Nigeria and Finland have greatly influenced how I train and mentor young women. In Finland, I saw the value of individual voice, equality, and structured feedback, which taught me to create spaces where every girl feels heard and respected. In Nigeria, I learned the power of community, encouragement, and resilience, where support and motivation often come from shared experiences. Blending both, my approach emphasizes confidence, discipline, and life skills, while honoring each girl’s background and potential.
BC: What does redefining leadership truly means to you as a woman in sport?
AYISAT: Redefining leadership, to me as a woman in sports, means shifting the focus from authority to impact. It’s not about being the loudest or the most visible it’s about creating space for others to grow, lifting voices that are often unheard, and leading with empathy and integrity. For young women in sports, it’s showing that leadership isn’t just about titles or control, it’s about empowering others, building confidence, and leaving a lasting influence both on and off the field.
BC: What silent battles do female coaches fight that the public does not see?
AYISAT: Female coaches face many silent battles that rarely make headlines.
They often struggle for recognition and respect in a male-dominated field, constantly having to prove their expertise. Many battle limited resources, lack of mentorship, and societal expectations that question whether women “belong” in leadership roles.
There’s also the emotional labor of mentoring, motivating, and protecting young athletes while navigating these systemic challenges, work that goes unseen but shapes the lives of the girls they coach. In short, female coaches fight for credibility, equality, and impact every single day.
BC: If you weren’t a coach, what would you be?
AYISAT: I would still be a mentor, perhaps in education, community leadership, or youth development. Coaching is not just what I do, it is who I am at HEART.
BC: What sacrifice did you make that people may never know about?
AYISAT: One of the greatest sacrifices I made was choosing responsibility over comfort. I put personal dreams, rest, and some relationships on hold to stay committed to a bigger vision. Many see the victories, but very few know the personal pain behind them.
BC: When the stadium lights go off and the crowd is gone, who is Ayisat Yusuf?
AYISAT: I am a woman of faith, reflection, and gratitude. Away from the noise, I am simply human thoughtful, grounded, and deeply committed to growth
BC: If you could speak to every young girl right now in one sentence, what would you say?
AYISAT: Never doubt your worth, never shrink your dreams, and most importantly DON’T EVER GIVE UP!!!
As she celebrates another year of impact and purpose, Ayisat Yusuf continues to prove that her greatest victories may yet come off the pitch. Through the Ayisat Yusuf Football Academy and the SHEFOOTBALL Initiative, she remains committed to nurturing talent, inspiring young girls, and expanding the reach of women’s football in Nigeria.
Her journey is not just a story of past achievements, but a powerful reminder that true legends create pathways for others to follow.