Tijjani Reijnders might be a Dutch international with no Nigerian heritage, but there’s an unexpected Super Eagles twist to his name. Born to parents who were die-hard Ajax fans, Reijnders was named after none other than Tijani Babangida — the electrifying Nigerian winger who lit up the Amsterdam Arena in the late ’90s.

Though there’s no family tie to Nigeria, Reijnders’ name is a tribute to the impact Babangida made on football fans across the world. It’s a story of admiration, legacy, and how a footballer’s brilliance can inspire across continents — even to the point of naming a child after them.

Sometimes, football love runs so deep, it shows up on the birth certificate