Super Eagles legend Tijani Babangida has finally met Netherlands international and Manchester City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders named after him, Soccernet.ng reports,
The Dutch midfielder—who was famously named after the former Ajax winger—met the former Nigerian football star shortly after the Netherlands booked their place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This marked the first time both Tijani’s will meet face-to-face. To grace the meeting, the Manchester City midfielder also received a signed copy of Babangida’s autobiography during the meeting.
Tijjani Reijnders and Tijani Babangida Finally Meet
The meeting between Babangida and Reijnders has been a story football fans have followed closely, especially after several reports confirmed that the Dutch star was indeed named after the former Super Eagles winger.
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In fact, a section of the Nigerian football fans thought the former AC Milan player has a Nigerian background due to his name—whereas, he was born to former Dutch footballer Martin Reijnders and Indonesian mother Angelina Lekatompessy.
Their paths had never crossed until now, but with the Netherlands securing World Cup qualification, fate provided the perfect backdrop.
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Babangida, who enjoyed a successful career with Ajax in the 1990s, can be spotted with pride and delight on his face at meeting the midfielder.
Tijani Babangida and Tijani Reijnders: See Photo Here
Tijani Babangida and Tijjani Reijnders FINALLY link up
About time you met the man you were named after pic.twitter.com/qFiZvI8bqc
— SportyTV (@SportyTV) November 20, 2025
Who Named the Manchester City Star Tijjani?
Reijnders has repeatedly stated—through club features, interviews, and FIFA documentation—that his father named him after Tijani Babangida, who was a player he greatly admired during his time at Ajax.
As at that time, per reports, Reijnders’ parents were a big fan of Ajax who admired Babangida.
Tijjani Reijnders’ parents were fans of Ajax, so they named him after the Ajax and Nigerian legend Tijjani Babangida. Today, they finally met each other pic.twitter.com/kpkFPRGHtZ
— Nas G. (@Naseeer_jr) November 20, 2025
Babangida’s impact in the Dutch league left a strong impression on Reijnders’ father, which led him to pass the name on to his son.
That admiration has now come full circle, with the Manchester City midfielder finally meeting the man who inspired his unique name.