Babatunde: I’m not different from the players here but I will try to help the team as I can

FCB Nyasa Big Bullets striker Babatunde Adepoju says he is not different from the players currently representing the national team.

The towering striker has earned his first ever national team call-up after completing his citizenship requirements with the Malawi Department of Immigration.

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Adepoju has been in Malawi since 2017 and has played for three teams so far. He played for Masters Security and Mighty Wanderers before joining Big Bullets in July 2021, where he established himself in Malawian football.

Speaking in an interview with Football Association of Malawi media, the Nigerian-born striker said he will try to help the team as much as he can.

“First of all, I would like to thank Almighty God, the coaches, the FAM President [Fleetwood Haiya], and also FCB Nyasa Big Bullets for giving me this opportunity.

“My arrival in the camp has just been a normal thing for a player, the normal routine. The players in camp have been friendly. Most of them are my friends, we have known each other, so it’s not a new thing.

“Finally I’m here, I give thanks to God. I’m just here to add what is already there because there are a lot of big players here. I’m not different from them. I’m just going to try my best and help the team as much as I can,” he said.

Adepoju could make his debut for the team in these two games as Malawi welcomes Equatorial Guinea on Thursday evening before playing away against São Tomé and Príncipe.

The striker emphasized the importance of these matches for the team’s FIFA rankings.

“These games are very important in terms of FIFA rankings. It’s a game of football and everything is important to the team. Getting three points will give us confidence and boost our morale for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers coming,” he added.

“The Pasuwa connection”

Adepoju’s arrival brings more than just his individual talents to the national team setup. The chemistry between coach and player cannot be manufactured overnight, particularly at international level where preparation time is severely compressed.

Coach Kalisto Pasuwa’s intimate knowledge of Adepoju—cultivated over 87 matches together at Bullets, yielding 52 goals and 21 assists—represents an invaluable asset that shouldn’t be casually dismissed.

Pasuwa understands instinctively how to maximize Adepoju’s strengths: his aerial dominance, his positioning in the box, and his capacity to perform in high-stakes encounters. This familiarity eliminates the integration period typically required when incorporating new players into national team setups. Adepoju can slot seamlessly into tactical frameworks, understanding Pasuwa’s philosophy and demands without extensive explanation.

The coach faces an unenviable balancing act: construct a competitive squad for the 2027 AFCON while simultaneously delivering results in the present. With players like Adepoju—who bring both proven quality and tactical familiarity—Pasuwa has the tools to pursue both objectives without compromise.