Ex-Super Falcons Star Lands Top Coaching Job In Finland

Former Super Falcons star, Ayisat Yusuf, has been appointed the new Head Coach of Tikkurilan Palloseura (TIPS FC) in Finland, where she will oversee the club’s T2014 and T2015 girls’ teams.

The ex-international, who holds a UEFA B coaching license, expressed her excitement at the opportunity to lead a new generation of players, describing her appointment as “an honour to serve and guide a talented, motivated team.”

She said: “I’m delighted to share that I have been appointed as the Head Coach of the T14/T15 Girls Competitive League at TIPS FC. It is a true honor to lead such a talented and motivated group of young players, supported by an excellent coaching team. Together, we aim to foster growth, teamwork, and excellence both on and off the pitch.”

A respected figure in women’s football, Ayisat enjoyed an illustrious career with 68 international caps, representing Nigeria at the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup, 2008 Beijing Olympics, FIFA U-19 World Cups (2002, 2004), and winning three gold medals from the African Championships and All-African Games.

Off the pitch, she is a recognized advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment in sports. In 2018, she founded the SheFootball Initiative, a platform dedicated to empowering female footballers in Africa, and later established the Ayisat Yusuf Football Academy in Lagos, Nigeria, in 2024.

She also serves as a board member of the UEFA FARE Network (Fight Against Racism in Europe) since 2015 and was a FIFPRO Merit Players Voice Award recipient.

TIPS FC expressed confidence in their new coach, noting that Yusuf’s experience and leadership would be instrumental to the club’s development goals.

“We’re proud to have Ayisat Yusuf in our ranks. Her expertise and passion for youth development will play a vital role in the continued progress of our girls’ teams,” the club said in an official statement.

In 2022, Yusuf was awarded the FIFPRO Merit Award for her work in empowering women and girls through sport.

She became the first African woman to receive the award.

In 2025, she was selected to participate as a coach at a prestigious FIFA Summer Camp tournament in Zurich, representing GirlPower Afghans United among a cohort of international youth teams.

She was a member of the Super Falcons squad at the 2004 African Women’s Championship, 2007 Women’s World Cup and the 2008 Summer Olympics.