Charles Agada inspires Mavlon to beat ATFA to secure Viareggio Cup semifinal berth

 

Football fans at the on- going Viareggio Cup in Italy were treated to a sublime football when Mavlon FC and Alex Transfiguration FC, two Nigerian teams met at the quarter - final clash.

Alex Transfiguration drew the first blood when Henry Madubuko converted from the spot in the 5th minute. The early goal deficit brought out the fighting spirit in search of an equaliser, which failed to come as both teams went into the break with Alex Transfiguration at an advantage.

However, it was a different ball game in the second half as the technical crew made some changes and the team more dominating against Alex Transfiguration, a team that comprised of players from some clubs that participated in the TCC league in Lagos, Nigeria.

In a nutshell, Mavlon indeed played against a team that can be likened to as consortion of players from about four teams in Lagos, but the strong winning mentality helped the team to claw back into the game through Inuwa in the 51st minute.

It became a balanced affair, but a winner must emerge within 90 minutes or straight to the penalties. It was a ding dong affair, an end to end attacking football from both sides.

But it was Mavlon that went into the lead 14 minutes later courtsey of Charles Agada, the captain of his side, who has now scored eight goals in the tournament.

Agada's goal proved the decider and paved the way for the team to play at the semi - final of the 2024 Viareggio Cup in Italy.

It is all African affairs as four Africans teams are in the semi-finals of the tournament.

Mavlon FC will engage Centre Nationale of Brazzaville, while Beyond Limits and Ojodu FC, two Nigerian teams will trade tackles in the other semi-final fixtures on Saturday . 

Viareggio Cup: Agada's hat trick inspires Mavlon FC to dump out Florentina

 

Charles Agada continued his fine form at the Viareggio Cup tournament as he registered hat trick to help Mavlon FC saw off Fiorentina 3-2 winner on Tuesday. 

The talented 17 year old Agada got the better of Fiorentina defense to open the score sheet with five minutes to end first half. 

He scored his brace in the 65th minute, but any thought of Mavlon being in a cruise control in the game was not seen, as Fiorentina clawed back with a goal in the 71st minute from Maiorana.

The Italians piled more pressure and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 90th minute to the excitement of football fans.

The game had the signature of a very round 16 tough knockout fixture and when both teams were thinking of extra time and possible lottery of penalties, Agada, who was configured to score goals scored the heart- breaking goal two minutes into stoppage time to seal a quarter- final passage for marvellous Mavlon FC.

The young striker, who is also the captain of his team, has now scored seven goals in four games at the ongoing Viareggio Cup to make him the leading top scorer at this year’s edition.

Viareggio Cup: Free scoring Agada inspires Mavlon FC to back to back win over Jovenes Promesas

 

Red- hot Nigerian teenage striker, Charles Agada is leading the goal scoring chart of the 2024 Viareggio Cup with four goals in two games, reports www.totorinews.com. 

The unstoppable striker was too lethal in the colours of Mavlon FC in the 2-1 victory of Jovenes Promesas in the match day two of the on- going Viareggio Cup tournament in Italy.

Mavlon FC approached the game with strong intention to subdue Jovenes Promesas from the blast of the whistle and the attacking due of Ephraim Elisha and Charles Agada were in a razor - like partnership to pummel their opponents with goals.

The attacking forays into their opponents' vital area paid off when Agada collected a lose ball inside the box and clinically fired into the net to give Mavlon the advantage.

The goal deficit brought out a fighting spirit from Jovenes Promesas players, as they went in search of equaliser, which they eventually got after a defender of Mavlon handled the ball inside the box and the referee pointed into the box.

Friday James in goal for Mavlon FC failed to stop the resultant kick, as both teams went into the break all squared.

The second half completely belonged to Mavlon FC. The teenage team from Nigeria totally dominated their opponents to the admiration of fans and they sealed the victory when Agada collected a pass from Simon Karshe and dispatched two defenders before hitting the ball with his left foot to restore the advantage again for his club till the end of the game.

Agada had earlier scored two goals in their first game against Avellino FC, which ended 4-1 in favour of the Nigerian side.

Viareggio Cup: Elisha, Agada inspire Mavlon to record big win over Avelino

Mavlon FC duo of Ephraim Elisha and Charles Agada stole the show on Tuesday as they registered brace each in the 4-1 win over Avellino FC at Viareggio Cup.

Elisha combined beautifully well with Agada as they went in search of early goal and it came when Agada was hacked down inside the box and Elisha converted from the spot, but Noah Mutanda restored parity for the Italian side 1-1.

Mavlon went ahead again through Elisha as the Nigerian side went into the break with a 2-1 advantage.

On resumption, Avellino FC went in search of an equaliser, but failed in their attempts, as Charles Agada punished the young Italians after pouncing on a loose ball in the box to hit it into net.

The game went beyond the reach of Avellino when Agada, a member of 2023 Golden Eaglets of Nigeria team to AFCON U-17 tournament in Algeria, hit a low drive to make it goal number four for Mavlon FC.

90 minutes witnessed football supremacy from Mavlon FC against an Italian team that is very formidable the U-19 tournaments in Italy. It was indeed a master - class performance from Mavlon FC.

Mavlon FC will trade tackles against Jovenes Promesas in the next game on Thursday at the on- going Viareggio Cup in Italy.

Mavlon defeated Jovenes Promesas 3-0 at the last edition of Viareggio Cup in 2023.

U17 AFCON: Golden Eaglets secure quarterfinal place with comeback win over South Africa

 

Nigeria sailed into the last eight of the Africa U17 Cup of Nations in Algeria with a 3-2 defeat of South Africa’s Amajimbo in an interesting encounter in Constantine on Saturday night.

 

Five-time world champions Nigeria, who pipped Zambia 1-0 in their opening match but then lost by the same margin to Morocco in their second game, fell behind as early as the 6^th minute when Amajimbo drew the first blood by converting from their very first corner kick.

 

The Eaglets had the ball in the net four minutes later but it was ruled off-side. They continued to knock as Tockukwu Ogbadibo’s shot proved too weak to trouble the opposing goalkeeper and Light Eke’s header missed target.

 

Charles Agada, who also had been knocking on the door, brought Nigeria level in the 33^rd minute when he nodded into the net from a corner kick with South Africa’s goalkeeper in no man’s land.

 

South Africa shot ahead once more but Light Eke restored Nigeria into the game two minutes after the restart.

 

Abubakar Abdullahi shot Nigeria into the lead for the first time in the match in the 63^rd minute, and it remained that way as the Eaglets finished with six points and in second place in Group B, behind Morocco who also ended with six points but with superior goals difference.