By Abbas Nazil
Football legends and global sports personalities have called for increased attention to youth mental health challenges, using the influence of football and other sports to promote wellbeing, social connection, and sustainable development.
The call was made at a high-level United Nations event in New York tagged “One World, One Game, One Goal: Football For The Goals (FFTG) Initiative,” organised by the UN Youth Affairs Office.
The event brought together athletes, policymakers, young leaders, and representatives from member states to highlight the role of sports in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and creating a more peaceful and sustainable future.
Among the prominent speakers were former Super Eagles player Daniel Amokachi, World Cup winner and FIFA ambassador Gilberto Silva, former NBA player Pop Mensah-Bonsu, and former Chelsea Women’s player and Great Britain Olympic team member Eniola Aluko.
Amokachi shared his personal experience with mental health struggles, recalling how a serious injury shortly before the 1998 FIFA World Cup affected his football career and emotional wellbeing.
The Olympic gold medallist explained that he had been preparing for a major move to one of Europe’s top leagues when an injury during the World Cup forced him to undergo surgery and eventually ended his professional playing career.
He said the sudden change created a difficult period in his life and exposed him to the mental health challenges that many young people face when dealing with unexpected setbacks.
According to Amokachi, his personal experience motivated him to establish the Daniel Amokachi Eduplus Youth Development Foundation, an organisation focused on supporting young people and promoting several SDGs, including zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, quality education, peace, justice, and strong institutions.
He stressed that approaches to mental health must consider local realities, noting that strategies effective in Europe and America may not always directly address challenges faced by African communities.
Amokachi explained that his foundation’s experience has shown that mental health support should not be limited to formal settings such as classrooms and conferences but should also include community spaces and sporting environments.
He said football provides an effective platform for reaching young people, building confidence, encouraging teamwork, and creating supportive networks.
Speaking at the event, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier said sustainable development efforts would remain incomplete without prioritising the mental wellbeing of young people.
Paullier noted that rapid technological changes and uncertainty about the future have created new pressures for youths, making mental health support and meaningful connections increasingly important.
He said young people across different countries consistently identify mental health as one of their major concerns and emphasised that addressing the issue requires care, inclusion, and stronger social relationships.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the “Football for the Goals” champions, with Daniel Amokachi becoming the first and only Nigerian former football player selected into the global initiative.
The Football for the Goals programme seeks to mobilise the global football community to support the SDGs by using the popularity of the sport to promote sustainability, equality, peace, and social development.
Participants at the event stressed that football’s global reach provides an opportunity to inspire positive change and create stronger support systems for young people facing mental health challenges worldwide.
