Shola Ogundana Explained

Shola Ogundana
Fullname:Elijah Oluwashola Ogundana
Birth Date:22 February 2005
Birth Place:Ifaki, Nigeria
Height:1.72 m
Position:Winger
Currentclub:Flamengo
Clubnumber:54
Youthclubs1:Beyond Limits
Youthyears2:2022
Youthclubs2:→ Alex Transfiguration (loan)
Youthyears3:2023–2024
Youthclubs3:Flamengo (loan)
Youthyears4:2024–
Youthclubs4:Flamengo
Years1:2024–
Caps1:1
Goals1:0
Club-Update: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]

Honours

Flamengo U20

2024

2024

Flamengo

2024

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brazil’s Flamengo make international splash with signing of Nigerian wonderkid. Soccernet.ng. 1 May 2023. 15 November 2024.
  2. Web site: Flamengo regulariza atacante nigeriano, contratado para o sub-20. Flamengo register Nigerian forward, signed for the under-20s. ge. pt-BR. 21 July 2023. 15 November 2024.
  3. Web site: Flamengo acerta a compra do nigeriano Shola; veja valores. Flamengo agree purchase of Nigerian Shola; see values. ge. pt-BR. 17 July 2024. 15 November 2024.
  4. Web site: Shola faz história ao estrear pelo Flamengo: ‘Sonho’. Shola makes history by debuting for Flamengo: 'Dream'. Correio Braziliense. pt-BR. 14 November 2024. 15 November 2024.
  5. Web site: Atacante nigeriano festeja estreia pelo time profissional do Flamengo: “Sonho”. Nigerian forward celebrates debut for the first team of Flamengo: "Dream". CNN Brazil. pt-BR. 14 November 2024. 15 November 2024.