Shola Ogundana: Nigerian starlet wins best player award as Brazil’s Flamengo win Copa Libertadores U20

Nigerian youngster Shola Ogundana has been named the best player of the 2025 Copa Libertadores U20 tournament after playing a crucial role in Flamengo’s successful title defence, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 20-year-old winger delivered a series of outstanding performances throughout the competition, finishing with two goals and two assists in five appearances.

His impact was instrumental in helping the Brazilian side retain their crown, and his efforts were rewarded with the tournament’s ‘Hero of the Tournament’ award.

READ MORE

• Brazil’s Flamengo make international splash with signing of Nigerian wonderkid
• WATCH: Iheanacho boosts Boro win; Okwonkwo strikes in Italy; Ogundana excels in Brazil; Tella on target

Ogundana shines as Flamengo triumph in dramatic final

Ogundana’s influence was felt in the final, where Flamengo faced Palmeiras in an all-Brazilian showdown.

The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, forcing a penalty shootout that Flamengo won 3-2 to become the first club to claim the U20 Libertadores title twice.

The match saw all its goals come in the second half.

Flamengo struck first just four minutes after the restart when Ogundana, operating on the left flank, orchestrated a brilliant attacking move that led to Felipe Lima’s opening goal. Palmeiras responded swiftly as Erick Belé’s header saw the ball struck the post and ricocheted off Lucas Furtado for the equalizer.

With neither side able to break the deadlock, the final was decided from the spot, where Flamengo held their nerve to secure victory and cement their dominance at the U20 level.

Ogundana: A star on the rise

Ogundana’s achievement was historic. He became the first African player to win the U20 Libertadores twice, having also played a key role in Flamengo’s maiden triumph in 2024.

Back then, while on loan from Nigerian academy Beyond Limits, he scored in the final against Boca Juniors, helping Flamengo secure their first title with a 2-1 victory.

That same year, he helped Flamengo lift the U20 Intercontinental Cup and the Copa do Brasil. His performances convinced Flamengo to sign him permanently in July 2024 for €450,000 (approximately N756.7 million), a move that has since proved to be a masterstroke.

This season, he once again showed his talent on the grand stage. He scored twice and provided an assist in Flamengo’s emphatic 6-1 group-stage victory over Olimpia U19, and also played a key role in two wins over Danubio U19—one in the group stage and the other in the semifinals.

Despite not finishing as the tournament’s top scorer, Ogundana’s overall impact made him the standout performer.

Belgrano’s Argentine forward Leandro Monzón and Palmeiras’ Brazilian striker Riquelme Fillipi topped the goalscoring chart with four goals each, but it was the Nigerian winger’s brilliance on the ball, creativity, and match-winning contributions that earned him the best player accolade.

Having already made his senior debut for Flamengo, Ogundana is now on the brink of a breakthrough into the first team. His performances at the youth level have not gone unnoticed, and he could soon establish himself in Flamengo’s senior setup, following in the footsteps of some of the club’s great wingers.

As the first Nigerian to play for Flamengo and only the third African to do so, Ogundana is already carving out a unique place in the club’s history. His next challenge will be to prove he is ready to make an impact at the senior level and continue his meteoric rise in South American football.