Rain couldn’t wash away the shine on Rinsola Babajide’s face as she made her first Super Falcons start in front of her father, right there on the red track of Abeokuta’s MKO Abiola Stadium. With her dad cheering from the sidelines, the Nigerian winger helped power the Falcons to a 2-0 victory over Cameroon in a pre-Women’s Africa Cup of Nation WAFCON friendly that felt like a family reunion, and a celebration of dreams realized.
Rinsola shared her emotions after the final whistle: “What an overwhelming feeling making my first start in front of my dad—priceless. Moments like this last a lifetime. Grateful to God! Enjoyed playing out there with the team tonight! What a win and great performance from everyone today! Thank you Abeokuta for all the love & support.”
Under the Abeokuta skies, the Falcons put on a show for the home fans, with goals and flair that set the stadium buzzing. But for Rinsola, the real victory was sharing this milestone with the man who first taught her to love the game.
