Tijjani Babangida

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Olympic medal record
Competitor for Flag of Nigeria Nigeria
Men's Football
Gold 1996 Atlanta Team Competition

Tijjani Babangida (born September 25, 1973 in Kaduna) is a former football winger from Nigeria. He played 40 international matches and scored 5 goals for Nigeria, and played at the 1998 FIFA World Cup, in the process scoring one of the goals of the tournament with a thunderous volley from the right side. He also won the Olympic gold medal in 1996.

Babangida came to the Netherlands at the age of seventeen, and was signed by Roda JC. After spending one and a half season on loan to VVV Venlo, Babangida played for Roda and became one of their most celebrated players. He was signed by giants Ajax Amsterdam, but gradually lost his place in the first team and was sent on loan to various clubs. Having been omitted from the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad, in 2002 he signed a six-month loan deal with Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia, but he walked out of the team in November after disagreements with the coach. He reportedly moved to play in China.

Two of his nine brothers, Ibrahim Babangida and Haruna Babangida, are also professional footballers.

[edit] Playing career

In recent years he has achieved cult status in the pro evolution soccer game series, due to his lightening pace and incredible ball control.

[edit] External references

Nigeria Nigeria squad - 1998 FIFA World Cup Nigeria

1 Rufai | 2 Oparaku | 3 Babayaro | 4 Kanu | 5 Okechukwu | 6 West | 7 George | 8 Adepoju | 9 Yekini | 10 Okocha | 11 Lawal | 12 W. Okpara | 13 Babangida | 14 Amokachi | 15 Oliseh | 16 Okafor | 17 Eguavoen | 18 Oruma | 19 Iroha | 20 Ikpeba | 21 G. Okpara | 22 Baruwa | Coach: Milutinović
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