Nigerian teenager Shola Ogundana has been named the perfect participant of the 2025 Copa Libertadores U20 event after enjoying a vital function in Flamengo’s profitable title defence, Soccernet.ng stories.
The 20-year-old winger delivered a collection of excellent performances all through the competitors, ending with two objectives and two assists in 5 appearances.
His influence was instrumental in serving to the Brazilian aspect retain their crown, and his efforts have been rewarded with the event’s ‘Hero of the Match’ award.
Hero of the event ❤️ pic.twitter.com/DOlskDUGZ8
— oluwashola (@7Oluwashola) March 17, 2025
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Ogundana shines as Flamengo triumph in dramatic remaining
Ogundana’s affect was felt within the remaining, the place Flamengo confronted Palmeiras in an all-Brazilian showdown.
The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, forcing a penalty shootout that Flamengo gained 3-2 to turn into the primary membership to say the U20 Libertadores title twice.
The match noticed all its objectives come within the second half.
Flamengo struck first simply 4 minutes after the restart when Ogundana, working on the left flank, orchestrated an excellent attacking transfer that led to Felipe Lima’s opening objective. Palmeiras responded swiftly as Erick Belé’s header noticed the ball struck the put up and ricocheted off Lucas Furtado for the equalizer.
With neither aspect capable of break the impasse, the ultimate was determined from the spot, the place Flamengo held their nerve to safe victory and cement their dominance on the U20 degree.
⚫ Aqui está o campeão! Pelo segundo ano seguido, o @Flamengo é o campeão da CONMEBOL #LibertadoresSub20 pic.twitter.com/hsh8WWpWYL
— CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub-20 (@LibertadoresU20) March 17, 2025
Ogundana: A star on the rise
Ogundana’s achievement was historic. He turned the primary African participant to win the U20 Libertadores twice, having additionally performed a key function in Flamengo’s maiden triumph in 2024.
Again then, whereas on mortgage from Nigerian academy Past Limits, he scored within the remaining towards Boca Juniors, serving to Flamengo safe their first title with a 2-1 victory.
Shola Ogundana scoring within the 2024 U-20 Copa Libertadores Closing as Flamengo gained the trophy. #PlayersExport | #NoLimits pic.twitter.com/7Ne5iRhbfJ
— Past Limits FA (@Beyond_LimitsFA) August 2, 2024
That very same yr, he helped Flamengo carry the U20 Intercontinental Cup and the Copa do Brasil. His performances satisfied Flamengo to signal him completely in July 2024 for €450,000 (roughly N756.7 million), a transfer that has since proved to be a masterstroke.
This season, he as soon as once more confirmed his expertise on the grand stage. He scored twice and offered an help in Flamengo’s emphatic 6-1 group-stage victory over Olimpia U19, and likewise performed a key function in two wins over Danubio U19—one within the group stage and the opposite within the semifinals.
Regardless of not ending because the event’s high scorer, Ogundana’s general influence made him the standout performer.
Belgrano’s Argentine ahead Leandro Monzón and Palmeiras’ Brazilian striker Riquelme Fillipi topped the goalscoring chart with 4 objectives every, however it was the Nigerian winger’s brilliance on the ball, creativity, and match-winning contributions that earned him the perfect participant accolade.
Having already made his senior debut for Flamengo, Ogundana is now getting ready to a breakthrough into the primary workforce. His performances on the youth degree haven’t gone unnoticed, and he may quickly set up himself in Flamengo’s senior setup, following within the footsteps of among the membership’s nice wingers.
As the primary Nigerian to play for Flamengo and solely the third African to take action, Ogundana is already carving out a novel place within the membership’s historical past. His subsequent problem will likely be to show he is able to make an influence on the senior degree and proceed his meteoric rise in South American soccer.