Nigerian international Rinsola Babajide delivered one of the most emotional moments of the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) so far, honouring late Portuguese star Diogo Jota with a heartfelt goal celebration during Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Tunisia.
Babajide, who plays her club football for UDG Tenerife in Spain and is a former Liverpool FC Women standout, scored Nigeria’s second goal of the match and marked the moment with a striking tribute. She dropped to the ground, sat cross-legged, and mimed holding a video game controller—perfectly replicating Jota’s iconic celebration made famous during his time at Liverpool, particularly after his dramatic late winner against Tottenham in 2023.
This symbolic gesture was more than just a celebration. It came in the wake of Diogo Jota’s tragic death, alongside his brother André, in a car accident in Spain on July 3. The football world has since been united in grief, with tributes pouring in from players and fans across the globe.
For Babajide, the moment was deeply personal. Having come through the Liverpool system herself, she shared a unique connection to Jota and the Anfield community. Her celebration was a quiet yet powerful expression of solidarity, loss, and remembrance.
Beyond the goal, Babajide was instrumental throughout the game, also assisting Nigeria’s first goal. But it was her tribute to Jota that stole the headlines and hearts.
The moment further underlines how football transcends borders and how players continue to honour each other, not just through competition, but through compassion and memory. Babajide’s tribute joins a wave of similar gestures seen across Europe and Africa in the days following Jota’s passing, with other players including PSG’s Ousmane Dembélé also mirroring the celebration.
As Nigeria progresses in the tournament, Babajide’s moment stands as one of the early defining images of WAFCON 2025—a reminder that behind every goal, there’s often a story, a memory, and a tribute worth remembering.
