- Source: Ibrahim Babatunde
Olalekan Ibrahim Babatunde (born 29 December 1984) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Swiss 4. Liga club FC Ravecchia.
Career
Babatunde, a striker, began his career in Italy, where he entered the youth system at Parma in 2008. After a brief stint with Arezzo, he made his Serie A debut in the 2002–03 season for Piacenza against his former club Parma, coming on as a 64th-minute substitute for Claudio Ferrarese in a 2–3 away loss at Stadio Ennio Tardini.
After only two appearances in Serie A, and three in the Serie B the following season, after Piacenza had suffered relegation, Babatunde had spells in Belgium, at Mons, and then in Malta, at Msida St. Joseph. At the latter, he was voted for the Malta Football Best Foreign Player award. In 2007, he signed with Danish Superliga club AC Horsens. He was first the subject of racist taunts in a match on 26 September 2007 against Næstved Boldklub. Babatunde was the subject of racism again in a friendly against Holstein Kiel in January 2018, when Kiel player Peter Schyrba called him "an animal".
In 2008, Babatunde returned to Italy to play for Nocerina. He won the 2008–09 Serie D title with the Campania-based team and was promoted to the Lega Pro Prima Divisione. Following an injury, he left the club in 2010.
In February 2011, Babatunde returned to Malta, reaching an agreement with Birkirkara. At the end of the season, he left the club when his contract expired, and in March 2013, he joined Latvian Higher League champions Daugava and helped them win the Latvian Supercup. In September 2014, he moved to the Lebanese Premier League side Racing Beirut before returning to Italy in 2015, playing for amateur clubs Saronno, Garda, Vedeggio, Novazzano and Real Melegnano the following years.
In July 2021, Babatunde made his footballing comeback, signing for FC Locarno in the sixth-tier Swiss 2. Liga.
Honours
Daugava
Latvian Supercup: 2013
References
External links
Profile at Nigerianplayers.com