By Olamide Awoyinfa
The sun hung low over the Red Sea, casting a weary golden glow across the sands of El Gouna, Egypt, as if it, too, felt the weight of a long day. Tolulope Ojo, the fleet-footed striker of El Gouna FC, slumped into the conversation like a marathon runner crossing the finish line, voice tinged with exhaustion, yet pulsing with a quiet fire that refused to flicker out. "I’m tired," he admitted, the words dragging like a ball scuffed through the turf, "but let’s do this." And just like that, with the grit of a warrior and the grace of a desert breeze, he laced up his resolve for one more play—an interview fresh off the pitch, where every syllable promised to dance between fatigue and fierce determination. This wasn’t just a chat; it was a front-row seat to a soul who’d rather chase dreams than catch his breath. Tolulope Ojo, a Nigerian footballer hailing from Ire-Ekiti in Ekiti State, is making waves in the Egyptian Premier League with his new club, El Gouna FC. The 21-year-old striker, who joined the team in October 2024 after leaving Pyramid FC, celebrated a significant milestone on Saturday, February 22, scoring his first goal for the club in a 2-0 victory against Ceramica Cleopatra. The win, bolstered by a penalty Ojo won during the match, lifted El Gouna away from the bottom three in the league standings and earned him the Man of the Match award.
In an exclusive interview, Ojo opened up about his journey, his ambitions, and the challenges of adapting to life in Egypt while staying true to his Nigerian roots. Born and raised in Ire-Ekiti, Ojo describes himself as a "local man" with a deep connection to Nigeria, despite his burgeoning career abroad.
Ojo’s move to El Gouna came after a stint with Pyramid FC, where limited playing time left him searching for a new opportunity to showcase his talent. Reflecting on the transition, he said, "For me, it’s a great move. In the aspect of playing football, in the aspect of feeling yourself as a footballer, you know, when you are not playing, the confidence will not be there again. But when you get to a place that you’ll be playing week in, week out, then you can feel that, yes, I’m a footballer, yes, this is what I need to do."“So, it’s better I’m playing than having the money. I’m happy."
For Ojo, the chance to play regularly outweighs financial considerations. "In that aspect of money, it may be like, you want more pay, but I know with me, I can go to places bigger than Pyramid FC, I can have money," he explained. "So, it’s better I’m playing than having the money. I’m happy."
Saturday’s match against Ceramica Cleopatra marked a turning point for Ojo. His first goal in the Egyptian Premier League came after a period of frustration, as he admitted the goals had been slow to arrive. "I really need to celebrate that yesterday because though I’m somewhat optimistic that I will score soon, the goals are not coming. I was like, what is happening?" he said. "So, I put every effort to get myself on the score sheet. I put on everything."
The breakthrough came in the second half after a goalless first, with Ojo determined to make his mark. "I said, this match I must score because it’s been long that I scored, and I need to get myself on the score sheet," he recalled. "So, I feel so really, really happy, and it’s like a burden lifted off my life. Now, it’s like I’m a little bit relieved that okay, I score now. I can start from here." |
| Tolulope Ojo on Facebook |
While Ojo is thriving on the pitch, life off it has presented its own challenges. Based in El Gouna, a coastal town four hours from Cairo, the team’s demanding travel schedule has tested his resilience. "This team does not base in Cairo. So, we do most of our games far away," he said. "Every week, week in, week out, we travel. If we go back to El Gouna, we play a home game. We are out again to come to Cairo. It has not been easy."
“I’m a kind of local man like that. So, I’m used to Nigeria. Everything about me is Nigeria”
Despite spending months in Egypt, the Ire Ekiti born attacker has resisted immersing himself fully in the local culture, proudly clinging to his Nigerian identity. "I’m a kind of local man like that. So, I’m used to Nigeria. Everything about me is Nigeria," he said with a laugh. "Even till now, in the Egyptian language, people tell me, ‘Okay, you should learn.’ I say, ‘I’m not learning anything.’ I’m not going to Arab like I want to be part of them. I’m just here for business, to play football."
When asked about his progress in learning Arabic, Ojo was candid about his limitations. "I’m very poor in Arabic. I only know the necessary words," he admitted. His linguistic skills are confined to football-related terms—enough to get by on the pitch. "When you have the ball, when you are counting, like one to ten, because we do rondos in training, I need to know when they are counting one, two, three, four, up to ten, so I can get myself ready," he explained. "Maybe when I tell you to go, maybe when I tell you to come, return pass—something like that I know."
Has his Arabic improved since joining El Gouna? "No, it has not improved," he said with a grin, underscoring his focus on football over cultural assimilation.
And With 19 games left on the calendar, the young striker is setting his sights high, aiming to finish the season with five goals and three assists.
“I take confidence like this,” he said, reflecting on his recent form. “So, I believe that maybe before the end of the season, I’m hoping to get five goals and like maybe three assists.” His tone was brimming with determination, a clear sign that he’s not just playing for the moment but building toward a legacy he can look back on with pride. “When you come back to this interview, maybe you’ll read it another time and say, I did this,” he added with a smile.
The player’s confidence comes on the heels of a productive stretch, where he’s finally found the back of the net after a slower start. With his targets now in sharp focus, he’s eager to make the most of the remaining matches, proving his worth as a key contributor to his team.
“Bello Babatunde is a fantastic player, I would love to play against him instead”
The conversation took a heartfelt turn when the topic shifted to Bello Babatunde, affectionately nicknamed “Fele,” who also used to ply his trade in the Egyptian league, both also from Ekiti State and Babatunde, now on loan at Remo Stars, remains a significant figure in the striker’s life. “He’s like my best friend in football,” he said
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| Tolulope Ojo & his best friend Bello Babatunde back in Ekiti |
When asked about Babatunde’s qualities, the enthusiasm was palpable. “Bello Babatunde is a fantastic player,” he exclaimed. “When we talk about master of the football, he’s very strong mentally and physically. He’s good. All I can say is he’s very good.” He paused, then added, “His attitude to the game is 100 percent concentrated. He does everything with ease and he puts in all his effort whenever he’s in a position to play.”
Given their close bond, it seemed natural to ask whether the striker dreamed of reuniting with Babatunde on the same team someday—perhaps even in Europe, where the bright lights of top-tier football beckon. His response, however, caught me off guard.
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| Both played against each other in the NPFL |
“I like to play against him. I like my team to just win. Every time I play against him, I want to win against him.” Far from yearning for a partnership, he relishes the chance to test himself against his best friend, fueling a friendly rivalry that adds an extra layer of intensity to their encounters.For now, he’s taking it one match at a time, confident that his hard work and newfound scoring touch will carry him toward the mark he’s set for himself. And when the season ends, he hopes to look back on this moment with satisfaction, knowing he turned ambition into action.
