The Super Falcons forward Rinsola Babajide turns to afrobeats to manage match pressure

Rinsola Babajide has revealed that her match-day preparation begins not with tactics, but with a carefully balanced music routine designed to steady her nerves and sharpen her focus before kick-off.

The Super Falcons forward, who was part of the squad that won the 2024 African Champions League, says managing pressure ahead of international fixtures depends as much on mindset as it does on training.

For the Nigeria international, that psychological edge comes through a deliberately structured playlist built around emotional contrast.

In an interview with 49th Street, relayed by Complete Sports, Babajide spoke about her connection to Nigerian music and the role it plays in her life as a professional athlete.

She named four leading Afrobeats stars — Kizz Daniel, Davido, Asake and Olamide — as central figures in her pre-match soundtrack.

“I love listening to them… practically all of them,” she confided, underlining how strongly she identifies with the country’s music scene.

For Babajide, the choice of artists is not incidental background noise, but an important cultural and emotional anchor in the build-up to competition.

However, it is not simply who she listens to that matters, but how she listens. The striker described a two-step approach designed to guide her through contrasting emotional states before stepping onto the pitch.

“I have a bit of everything, even on match days,” the player explains. Her routine begins with slower love songs, which she uses to calm herself and channel her emotions in the hours leading up to a match.

This initial phase allows her to settle any nerves and approach the occasion with composure.

As kick-off approaches, the mood shifts. Upbeat and fast-paced rhythms replace the softer tracks, helping her raise intensity levels and tap into the aggression required for elite competition. The transition, she says, is intentional and essential.

“It’s the perfect combination for match day, to feel all the sensations,” concludes the forward, who has become a key member of the national team setup.

For Babajide, preparation is not limited to drills and strategy sessions. It is a mental exercise shaped by rhythm, emotion and timing — a personal soundtrack crafted to ensure she reaches the pitch ready for every challenge.