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Rinsola Babajide Scores Debut WAFCON Goal, Pays Tribute to Late Diogo Jota
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Super Falcons winger Rinsola Babajide marked her Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) debut in powerful fashion on Friday, scoring her first-ever goal for Nigeria in a 2–0 victory over Tunisia during their Group A opener in Morocco.
The 26-year-old speedster lit up the game in the 45th minute with a dazzling display of pace and precision, sprinting past two defenders before rifling a low shot inside the near post to double Nigeria’s lead just before halftime. Captain Asisat Oshoala had opened the scoring earlier in the match.
Babajide’s goal was not only a personal milestone but also a poignant tribute. In a heartfelt gesture, she celebrated by mimicking the iconic celebration of late Liverpool forward Diogo Jota, who tragically passed away just a day earlier.
The football world was left in shock on Thursday, July 3, 2025, following the tragic deaths of Jota, 28, and his younger brother André Silva, 25, in a high-speed crash in Zamora, northwestern Spain. The pair were traveling in a Lamborghini Huracán to catch a ferry to the UK when a suspected tyre blowout caused the vehicle to veer off the A-52 motorway near Cernadilla. The car burst into flames, and both brothers were pronounced dead at the scene.
Babajide, who switched her international allegiance from England to Nigeria in 2023, offered her tribute as a touching nod to Jota’s legacy. Her celebration resonated with fans worldwide as a reminder of football’s unique ability to unite people in both joy and grief.
As Nigeria chases a record-extending 10th WAFCON title, Babajide’s emotional moment stood out—not just for its sporting brilliance, but for its humanity.
