Shola Ogundana

Shola Ogundana
Personal information
Full name Elijah Oluwashola Ogundana
Date of birth (2005-02-22) 22 February 2005 (age 19)
Place of birth Ifaki, Nigeria
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
 Flamengo
Number 54
Youth career
Beyond Limits
2022 → Alex Transfiguration (loan)
2023–2024 → Flamengo (loan)
2024– Flamengo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2024– Flamengo 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 13 November 2024

Elijah Oluwashola Ogundana (born 22 February 2005), sometimes known as just Shola, is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Brazilian club Flamengo.

Career

Born in Ifaki, Ekiti State, Shola played for the Beyond Limits Football Academy, the youth sides of Remo Stars, before being scouted by Flamengo in the 2022 Torneo di Viareggio, while playing for Alex Transfiguration Football Academy.[1] He agreed to join the Brazilian club in April 2023, after his 18th birthday, but only had his loan contract registered in July.[2]

Shola helped the under-20 side to win both the 2024 U-20 Copa Libertadores and the 2024 Under-20 Intercontinental Cup, scoring the opening goal in the former's final. On 17 July of that year, Flamengo bought him outright, paying R$ 2.4 million for 70% of his economic rights.[3]

Shola made his senior – and Série A – debut on 14 November 2024, coming on as a late substitute for Carlos Alcaraz in a 0–0 home draw against Atlético Mineiro; he became the first Nigerian to play for the club, and the third African in the club's history.[4][5]

Career statistics

As of 15 November 2024[6]
Club Season League State League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Flamengo 2024 Série A 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 1 0
Career total 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0

Honours

Flamengo U20

Flamengo

References

  1. ^ "Brazil's Flamengo make international splash with signing of Nigerian wonderkid". Soccernet.ng. 1 May 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Flamengo regulariza atacante nigeriano, contratado para o sub-20" [Flamengo register Nigerian forward, signed for the under-20s] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  3. ^ "Flamengo acerta a compra do nigeriano Shola; veja valores" [Flamengo agree purchase of Nigerian Shola; see values] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 17 July 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  4. ^ "Shola faz história ao estrear pelo Flamengo: 'Sonho'" [Shola makes history by debuting for Flamengo: 'Dream'] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Correio Braziliense. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Atacante nigeriano festeja estreia pelo time profissional do Flamengo: "Sonho"" [Nigerian forward celebrates debut for the first team of Flamengo: "Dream"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). CNN Brazil. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
  6. ^ Shola Ogundana at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 November 2024.


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