Rinsola Babajide: Another Foreign Reject in Nigeria’s Fold

It is not uncommon for Nigeria’s senior national team-male and female to parade European players of Nigerian descent in spite of them having played in age-grade competitions for their country of birth.

Except for a few, it is after most of these players have failed to meet the cut of the senior national teams of their country of birth that they turned to their father land for succour and a very good example is Tenerife striker, Rinsola Babajide, who is enjoying the headlines after she recently got Super Falcons call-up.

Unlike her contemporary, Ashleigh Plumptre, who could easily walk into the England Lioness team but chose Nigeria despite representing England at youth levels  because she wanted to uncover more about her heritage, while it was after Babajide failed to impress at the senior level that she opted to change her nationality to Nigeria.

“For me, I always say that I have to play football for more than just playing it itself. The same way that I chose to join Leicester because of my hometown’s club.

“With Nigeria, I wanted to uncover more of my heritage that I hadn’t delved into before because my dad is half-Nigerian and half-English. My grandad was born in Lagos. But i’ve been brought up very British, so, I want to join the Nigerian team where I got to experience food like this, experience more of the culture, I guess,” she had said.

Interestingly, Babajide, who was born to Nigerian parents in London, was named in Randy Waldrum’s squad to face Ethiopia in a second-round qualifier for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games women’s football event.

In her reaction to her recent call up to the Falcons, she expressed delight at the love shown to her by Nigerians following her inclusion in the team.

“The love I’ve been feeling has been very overwhelming, thank you so much. Grateful & blessed for this opportunity, #Honoured,” she wrote on her X.

“My main focus is trying to get into the team and just make sure I’m in the limelight.”

Babajide had represented England at U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels before switching allegiance to Nigeria at senior level.

In August 2018, she was part of the England U20s squad that claimed bronze at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup culminating to her inclusion in a training camp for the England senior team in September 2020 but failed to impress the team handlers.

After being released by Real Betis Feminas at the expiration of her contract in the summer, Babajide was unveiled by Liga F side, UD Granadilla Tenerife marking a return to Spain.

The former Liverpool FC star who scored six goals and emerged as Real Betis’ Most Valuable Player in the 2022/23 season opted to join Tenerife who finished sixth on the Liga F table last season despite interests from other clubs.

The club announced the signing of the England-born player saying, “Rinsola Babajide third signing from UDG Tenerife. The English striker (ex @liverpoolfcw) and @realbetisfem target the blue and white attack.”

The 24-year-old striker possesses lots of qualities bound to help Tenerife perform at an optimal level in the coming season which includes agility, speed, good positioning, high scoring IQ amongst others.

Babajide joining of Tenerife comes four weeks after Super Falcons striker Esther Okoronkwo joined the Spanish side from French club, St Etienne..

Born in London, Babajide joined Millwall Lionesses Ladies from Crystal Palace Ladies in January 2015, but made her professional debut on March 18 against the London Bees in a FA WSL match which ended in a draw.

Before her move to Tenerife on 3 July 2023, she featured for Liverpool, Watford, Brighton and Hove Albion and Real Betis.

She was Liverpool’s second highest goal scorer in the 2018/19 WSL season with two campaign goals.

Babajide was then Liverpool’s joint-second WSLgoal scorer in the 2019/20 season with one single league goal.

From 2016 to 2019 she played for England’s U-19, U-20 and U-21.