Wycombe Abbey Pupil, Yimika, Empowers Nigerian Footballers through FBNFF Campaign.
10 April 2026 - Sport
For Wycombe Abbey’s newly appointed Sports Captain, Yimika, football is about more than the game itself. She is harnessing the power of the sport she loves through her campaign, Football Boots Need Football Feet (FBNFF), to bridge the gap between surplus resources in the UK and the untapped potential of young athletes in Lagos, Nigeria.
The seeds of the campaign were sown years ago at a national stadium in Lagos. A then ten-year-old Yimika spent her weekly swimming trips observing local children playing barefoot on ‘dusty ground’ using ‘worn-out goals’. Recalling the surge of ‘confidence and motivation’ she felt as a player whenever she received a new pair of boots, she felt a calling to share that feeling with those playing without. ‘I wanted to share that same feeling with others… so that they too could feel encouraged to continue chasing their dreams,’ she explains.
Bringing this vision to life required a significant collaborative effort across the Wycombe Abbey community. Yimika organized a School-wide collection by placing donation boxes in every boarding House and creating a central hub under the chapel stairs. This ‘simple and convenient’ approach allowed pupils and staff to contribute easily, resulting in 41 pairs of boots collected so far. Yimika credits the success to the School’s ‘charitable’ spirit and the vital ‘guidance, ideas, and encouragement’ provided by the School Chaplain, Padre Paul.
The impact of FBNFF is deeply personal. Yimika has spent the last two summers training alongside the Lagos State Girls’ Under-17 team, building a ‘genuine connection’ with the players. This relationship culminated in a holiday charity tournament involving her local community and the youth teams, which raised 1.2 million naira. While the funds provided essential gear like bibs and goals, the true highlight for Yimika was the ‘sense of unity’ and the joy of competing together under the ‘intense Lagos heat’.
Beyond the physical gear, Yimika views these donations as a psychological motivator. She believes that providing the right equipment shows these young athletes that ‘people believe in their potential,’ helping to ‘boost their confidence’ as they pursue their football journeys.
Looking to the future, Yimika’s ambitions are growing. She plans to establish the charity match as an annual event and hopes to eventually partner with professional Nigerian footballers to inspire the next generation. For Yimika, FBNFF is more than a charitable initiative; it is a mission to ensure that every passionate player has the equipment, and the belief, to step onto the pitch with pride.
Well done Yimika!
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