People of the Union: Igor Nascimento

People of the Union puts the spotlight on individuals across FIFPRO’s member associations who are dedicated to improving the wellbeing of professional footballers.

Igor Nascimento is the President of the Associação Nacional dos Futebolistas de Angola (ANFA). After playing football professionally for 14 years, he reflects on his work creating the union, his favourite football memories and the people who inspire him in the union world.

FIFPRO: Tell us about yourself: what is your current role and what is your background? 

Igor Nascimento: I am currently the founder and President of the Associação Nacional dos Futebolistas de Angola (ANFA). Before this, I spent 14 years as a professional footballer, playing both in Angola and abroad. I represented several clubs including GD Interclube, Benfica de Luanda, Atlético Sport Aviação, FC Bravos do Maquis, to name a few. My experience as a player continues to shape my work today, as I remain closely connected to the realities and needs of footballers.

What issue affecting players' welfare are you most passionate about?

I am particularly passionate about addressing contractual breaches that impact players’ livelihoods. This includes situations where clubs carry out abusive or unilateral terminations without just cause, as well as cases where players are forced to terminate contracts due to outstanding debts. Ensuring fairness, respect, and accountability in contractual relationships is essential to protecting players.

Can you share one of your proudest moments or achievements working as a union representative?

My proudest moments as a player representative have not just been about winning cases in the Angolan Football Federation Disciplinary Council or at the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chambers. While those outcomes matter, I believe many disputes can be avoided when there is good faith from clubs. I don’t see conflict as something to celebrate, what matters more to me is fostering understanding, preventing disputes, and protecting players through constructive solutions.

If you could change something in football, what would it be?

There isn’t much I would change in today’s game, but one rule I find unfair is giving a yellow card to a player for celebrating a goal by removing their shirt. Scoring a goal is the most emotional and important moment in football, and it should be experienced to the maximum. Expecting players to suppress that emotion in such a moment goes against the human side of the game.

Is there anyone in the union world or in sports in general who inspires you?

There are three people in global trade unionism who inspire me: Joaquim Evangelista, President of the Portuguese Players’ Union, Anthony Baffoe, Secretary General of the Ghana players’ union, and Maheta Molango, CEO of the PFA. They are highly charismatic, speak multiple languages, and have done outstanding work in their respective unions. As someone still growing in this space, I look up to them as role models.

What is your favourite football memory till date?

My favourite football memory was when the Angolan national team qualified for the 2006 World Cup in Germany—our first and only appearance. It was an incredible moment, and I couldn’t believe that my country had reached the very top of world football.

Who is your favourite football player ever and why?

My favourite player is Ronaldo Nazário. He was unique—fast, explosive, powerful, and exceptional in one-on-one situations, with an incredible eye for goal. What inspires me most is how he overcame multiple serious injuries and still reached the highest level, playing in three World Cup finals and winning the Ballon d’Or. For me, as a number 9, “R9” is simply incomparable.

Do you have any interests outside of football?

After finishing school, my father invited me to work at his private primary school, where I took on administrative responsibilities. Through this experience, I fell in love with education and teaching. I have since pursued further training in this field and plan to continue investing in it, as education is so important for any country, especially in Angola, where unfortunately many children are still outside the school system.

What does being part of a global union mean to you?

It is a great honour for me to be part of FIFPRO globally. It represents recognition of the work my team and I have carried out with great sacrifice for players in Angola and beyond. As an emerging football nation, being part of FIFPRO Africa and the global network alongside countries such as Portugal, France, England, Ghana, Egypt and Morocco brings significant value and visibility to Angolan footballers.

Looking forward, what do you hope to see unions unite more on to shape the future of football for the players?

It is proven the important role that the unions have in the football ecosystem of any country, so we therefore need to be more united. I would also like to see unions in Africa work closer together to improve the lives of footballers across the continent as well as increasing membership at FIFPRO to broaden their impact. I would hope big football nations such as Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Tunisia and others become members soon as that would help the players movement in general.