Nigeria winger Rinsola Babajide insists winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with the Super Falcons has inspired her to work for more silverware with her new club.
Babajide joined AS Roma in July from Liga F’s UDG Tenerife, where she scored 10 goals last season.
Speaking to SABC Sport, Babajide says she believes she can achieve more in her career in Italy, including playing Champions League football.
“At Tenerife, it was my first time getting 10 goals, so I'm prioritising, personally, to either maintain that or get better in terms of my goals stats-wise, but I also want to be a starter and play the best I can for myself and for my team,” Babajide said.
“I joined Roma to get silverware as well. I got my first one, it was the best feeling, I really want more. I've seen the history of Roma, especially the women's side, they've gotten trophies before, whether it's the league or cup titles.
“I'm literally wanting more silverware, that's where my focus is and also, I want Champions League football."
Born to Nigerian parents and growing up in England, the winger detailed how she was first introduced to professional football when she was discovered by a scout from Premier League side Crystal Palace.
“Everything really kickstarted properly in year seven because I became more confident playing with the guys, and then a girl from my senior year spoke to me one time after our lunch break saying 'By the way, I play for this team',” she explained.
“I think it was a Sunday league team called Lamb of Girls at the time, I don't know if they exist now, she was like, ‘I think you should come through, you're such a good player, I see you every lunch break ripping the guys and everything, come through and see what happens.’
“So she gave me the contact, I spoke to my parents about that, they took me down there and yeah, I pretty much played in every position. After two years, the manager believed I've done everything needed to kick on to another level.
“So, he gave me this feeder team thing where there was a lot of scouts, my parents took me to that and a Crystal Palace scout spoke to my parents, saying I’m a very good player, I should come down to Palace and yeah, things just kept blossoming.”
The 27-year-old joined Palace at 16 before moving to Millwall Lionesses, Watford, Liverpool and then Brighton & Hove Albion, prior to her move to Spain.
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