Tijani Babangida: AC Milan Star Confirms Super Eagles Legend Inspired His Name, Video

Tijani Babangida: AC Milan Star Confirms Super Eagles Legend Inspired His Name, Video

Raphael Abiola
updated at March 25, 2024 at 7:03 AM
In this article:
AC Milan logo
AC Milan
Italy
45
Nigeria logo
Nigeria
Nigeria
21
Super Eagles logo
Super Eagles
South Africa
Italian Serie A logo
ITA Serie A
Italy
Netherlands logo
Netherlands
Netherlands
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Tijjani Reijnders logo
T. Reijnders
AC Milan logoMNetherlands logo
  • Tijani Babangida is rated as one of the best players in the legendary Super Eagles squad
  • An AC Milan midfielder has come out to confirm being named after the Nigerian legend
  • The former Super Eagles star had a good time with Ajax during his heydays in the 90s

AC Milan and Netherlands midfielder, Tijjani Reijnders, has confirmed that he was named after Super Eagles legend, Tijani Babangida.

The Dutch international also shed more light on the connection between his name and that of the former Nigerian international.

The AC Milan star scored his first international goal for Die Oranje in their 4-0 win over Scotland in a friendly a few days ago.

Tijani Babangida has his first name, being named after AC Milan star, Tijjani Reijnders. Photo: Gerry Penny/Claudio Villa.
Tijani Babangida was the inspiration for the naming of AC Milan star, Tijjani Reijnders. Photo: Gerry Penny/Claudio Villa.
Source: Getty Images

In a viral video shared on social media, the Dutch midfielder explained that his parents named him after Babangida due to their love for the former Super Eagles star during his time with Ajax in the late 1990s.

The former AZ Alkmaar star claimed his parents liked the Nigerian legendary winger's first name.

"There is a football player from Ajax, his name is Tijani Babangida, and my parents liked his first name," Reijnders explained.

The explanation from the Milan midfielder stirred up some mixed reactions from Nigerians on social media.

@Orguy said:

"Oh wow! Solid stuff. Legacy things."

@dakdutch said:

"Football fans be doing too much. Reminds me of one Singaporean guy named Solskjaer."

@Tommyskizy said:

"We Don dey motivate and inspire no be today... Naija no dey Carry last."

@Lord_Rafosky4 said:

"Hmmm I was wondering about this yesterday watching the Netherlands vs Scotland friendly so I needn't wonder anymore then lol interesting."

@Lasgiddy8 said:

"Every time I pronounced his name. I’m always like “this is a yoruba name now”"

@Luctorrr said:

"I used to say that Tijani sounded Nigerian. Was still telling my brother about it while we were checking their line up against Scotland."

Chukwueze named Milan’s biggest flop

Sports Brief earlier reported on football expert, Peppe Di Stefano, stating Samuel Chukwueze is AC Milan’s biggest flop this season after his challenging start to his career in Italy.

The 24-year-old has faced heavy criticism from fans and pundits alike after struggling to adapt to life in Serie A following his €20 million summer transfer move from Villarreal.

Authors
Raphael Abiola photo
Raphael Abiola
Raphael Abiola is a Nigerian Sports Journalist with over five years of experience. He obtained a B.Tech degree in Computer Science from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, in 2015.