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Everything you need to know about former Ajax and Nigeria winger Tijani Babangida, including his Profile, Age, Net Worth, Wife, Brother, Horrific Accident and Achievements.
Tijani Babangida background
Tijani Babangida is a Nigerian former professional footballer, who played as a right winger during his active days, impressing with his aggressive ball-carrying.
The erstwhile wide attacker represented Eredivisie giants Ajax for a dominant portion of his career as well as other Dutch sides VVV-Venlo, Roda JC and Vitesse. Before calling time on his career, he also had spells in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and China.
Babangida made 36 appearances for Nigeria, even if his crowning glory came with the U23 side at the 1996 Olympics, where the West African nation claimed a gold medal in the Men's Olympic Football Tournament.
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14:25 - 25.09.2023
Tijani Babangida: Reactions as Super Eagles legend turns 50
Reactions as Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida turns 50 in style.
Tijani Babangida Profile
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Full name: Tijani Babangida
Birth date: September 25, 1973
Nationality: Nigerian
Place of birth: Kaduna, Nigeria
Age: 50 years old (as of July 2024)
Position: Winger
Height: 5 ft 7 in or 169 centimetres
Marital status: Married
How old is Tijani Babangida? (Tijani Babangida Age)
Tijani Babangida is 50 years old as of July 2024.
Tijani Babangida Club Career
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After playing for Arewa Textiles and Niger Tornadoes, Tijani Babangida secured a move abroad after the Cairo All-African Games in 1991.
Babangida joined Roda in 1991 but was sent to VVV-Venlo on loan for the 1991-92 campaign, making six appearances and netting three goals, even if it could not prevent Eredivisie relegation.
The winger stayed on loan for another year and had an outstanding campaign in the second division, notching 16 goals in 28 appearances as the Venlo-based club claimed the Eerste Divisie title, prompting a return to his parent club. Three admirable seasons saw Babangida secure a breakthrough move to Ajax in 1996 for a reported €5 million transfer fee.
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The Nigerian became a pivotal player under Louis van Gaal and notched three titles at the Dutch giants, including a league and cup double in the 1997-98 season. Cup success followed the next season despite a disappointing title defence that saw de Joden finish sixth, 23 points off champions Feyenoord.
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As he became a fringe player with the Eredivisie giants, a temporary loan spell with Genclerbirligi brought domestic cup success for the Turkish side in 2001 and further loan spells at Vitesse and Saudi side Al-Ittihad, with the latter bringing league success in the Saudi Premier League.
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He played for Chinese side Changchun Yatai, making 29 appearances before retiring in 2004.
Tijani Babangida International Career
Often limited by Finidi George being managers’ preference for the right-wing berth, Tijani Babangida played second fiddle to the erstwhile Ajax winger in the national team.
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Regardless, Babangida featured 36 times for the Super Eagles after a debut against Romania in 1994. Babangida played at the 1998 World Cup, finding the back of the net against Denmark as Nigeria exited at the round of 16 in France.
The winger was also involved in two Africa Cup of Nations campaigns in 2000 and two years later, notching silver in the former and claiming bronze two years later.
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While he never claimed a senior international honour, Babangida was part of the Olympic group that stunned Brazil and Argentina en route to an unexpected gold medal in Atlanta, featuring in every game and playing 90 minutes in the decider.
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Tijani Babangida Career Achievements
Club Level
Eerste Divisie: 1992-93
Eredivisie: 1997-98
KNVB Cup: 1997-98, 1998-99
Turkish Cup: 2000-01
Saudi Pro League (then Saudi Premier League): 2002-03
International Level
Nigeria U23
Summer Olympics: 1996
Tijani Babangida Stats
According to National Football Teams, Tijani Babangida played 249 club career games before retiring, scoring 76 times. According to Transfermarkt, the former winger received nine yellow cards and was sent off on one occasion.
Most of Babangida's appearances came in the Eredivisie, where the former winger played 175 times and scored 49 goals. The retired winger featured 14 times in the Champions League and played nine UEFA Cup (now Europa League) matches in his career.
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For Nigeria's national team, Babangida played 36 times and notched five goals. He made 10 appearances at the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring twice and featured four times at the 1998 World Cup finals in France, scoring the Super Eagles' only goal in their last-16 4-1 defeat at the hands of Denmark.
Tijani Babangida Personal life
Tijani Babangida comes from a large family, and he had at least nine brothers, two of whom — Ibrahim and Haruna — were also footballers.
His younger brother, Ibrahim, tragically died in a car accident in May 2024. The accident also involved Babangida's wife, who reportedly sustained an eye injury.
Babangida was previously married to Rabah — Daniel Amokachi's sister-in-law — but they are no longer together.
Tijani Babangida Accident
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18:44 - 19.05.2024
WATCH: 'We are with you' - Ajax, Van Gaal send emotional message to Tijani Babaginda
Tijani Babangida lost his son and brother, another Nigeria international Ibrahim Babangida following a devastating auto crash that claimed both their lives.
On May 9, 2024, news broke that former Super Eagles star Tijani Babangida was involved in a horrific car accident that resulted in his brother's death.
These reports claimed that Babangida was travelling with his brother, Ibrahim, when the accident occurred near Zaria, tragically claiming the life of Babangida's brother and ultimately his one-year-old son - Fadil – while his wife – Maryam - was in the ICU at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria after facial surgery. Tijani was said to be in critical but stable condition.
The retired player was transferred to Abuja from the teaching hospital in Zaria and was paid a condolence visit by Nigeria Football Federation president, Ibrahim Gusau, along with an NFF delegation that included former Nigeria international Augustine Eguavoen.
Tijani Babangida Wife
Tijani Babangida’s wife is Maryam, born November 9, 1992. She is 31 years old as of July 2024.
According to the Daily Trust, the retired footballer and his wife — then Maryam Musa Waziri — a Kannywood actress tied the knot on November 26, 2021, in Gombe.
They had a son together, but the one-year-old Fadeel lost his life after complications resulting from a road accident in May 2024.
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Babangida was previously married to Amokachi’s sister-in-law, Rabah.
Tijani Babangida Net Worth
While publicly available figures for Tijani Babangida’s net worth are unavailable since his retirement from playing, his successful football career and various appointments and contracts under the Nigerian government suggest he is likely in a comfortable financial position.
Several estimates believe his net worth is around $5 million.
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