Former Super Eagles star Tijani Babangida has finally met Tijjani Reijnders, the Netherlands international who was named in his honour. The meeting came after the Oranje’s 4-0 victory over Lithuania in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, during which Reijnders opened the scoring.
Reijnders’ father, Martin, chose the name as a tribute to Babangida, who became a household name during his time with Eredivisie giants Ajax. Babangida netted 49 goals in 175 appearances for the Dutch club and helped secure the Eredivisie title along with two KNVB Cups.
In a memorable gesture, Babangida presented his namesake with a signed copy of his autobiography, marking a historic football connection that bridges two generations.
About the Author
