By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nigeria teenage sensation Babatunde Akomolede has completed a move to Belgian giants Anderlecht, penning a five-year contract that runs until 2028.
The 18-year-old defender, who developed at Lagos-based Broad City FC, will link up with the RSCA Futures squad, Anderlecht’s developmental team competing in Belgium’s second tier.
Akomolede first drew international attention during the 2024 Gothia Cup in Gothenburg, where his commanding displays at the back earned plaudits from scouts and opposition alike.
Known for his tenacity, physical presence, and technical ability, the youngster also possesses a trademark weapon, his long throw-in, which regularly created scoring opportunities and proved decisive in high-stakes matches.
Beyond his defensive prowess, Akomolede has already showcased leadership qualities, often captaining Broad City FC despite his age.
Anderlecht now hopes to refine his raw potential into top-level quality, with a clear pathway set from RSCA Futures to the club’s senior team.
The Belgian outfit views him as a long-term project capable of reinforcing their defensive line in the coming years.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
