Soccer
Nigeria and AS Roma stars Rinsola Babajide and Shakirat Oladipo. Photo Credit: Babajide/X
AS Roma Women will rely on Nigerian stars Shukurat Oladipo and Rinsola Babajide tonight as they face fierce rivals Juventus in the 2026 Coppa Italia Femminile final at the Stadio Romeo Menti in Vicenza, Soccernet.ng reports.
The match offers the Super Falcons duo the chance to carve their names into Nigerian football history. No Nigerian player has ever won the Coppa Italia Femminile, meaning Oladipo and Babajide could become the first from the country to lift the famous trophy if Roma defeat Juventus.
Roma arrive in Vicenza full of confidence after sealing their third Serie A Femminile title in four seasons earlier this month. Alessandro Spugna’s side finished the league campaign with 55 points and enjoyed a remarkable 15-match unbeaten streak. They also edged Juventus 1-0 in their final league meeting of the season.
Yet Juventus remain a dangerous opponent. The Turin giants already defeated Roma in both the Serie A Women’s Cup and the Italian Super Cup this season and also crushed them 4-0 in last year’s Coppa Italia final. The Bianconere are now chasing a third trophy of the campaign and will once again look to attacking threats such as Amalie Vangsgaard and Lindsey Thomas.
Soccer Oladipo, Babajide ready for the big stage
Much of the attention ahead of the final has centred on Oladipo and Babajide after the pair recently became the first Nigerian teammates to win the Serie A Femminile title together.
Oladipo, 21, heads into the final in outstanding form. The former Robo Queens defender was named Serie A Femminile Best Defender of the Season earlier this week and also earned a place in the league’s Team of the Season after a dominant campaign at the heart of Roma’s defence.
She featured in 30 matches across all competitions, while Roma kept 11 clean sheets in her 18 league appearances. The Nigerian centre-back also recorded 70 clearances and 104 recoveries during the league season.
Babajide, meanwhile, has added pace and creativity to Roma’s attack since joining from Tenerife on a two-year contract. The 27-year-old winger made 14 appearances in all competitions, contributing one goal and three assists despite limited playing time.
Whether selected from the start or introduced later in the game, Babajide’s speed and direct running could become one of Roma’s biggest weapons against a Juventus defence expected to face heavy pressure in the closing stages.
With the Serie A title already secured, Roma now stand one victory away from a historic domestic double. And Oladipo and Babajide are just 90 minutes away from becoming pioneers for Nigerian football in Italy.
Imhonlamhen
Imhonlamhen is a football writer and editor at Soccernet.ng with over six years’ experience shaping its editorial voice. A lifelong Arsenal and Super Eagles fan, he combines engineering precision with training in journalism and digital media. He has covered four AFCONs and two Women’s AFCON tournaments, specialising in Super Eagles history and tracking Nigerian players worldwide, while keeping a close eye on the NPFL and emerging homegrown talents.
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