NLO showcases Nimi; youngest goalscorer in 2024 season

 

The Nationwide League One has over the years provided an important platform for the best young footballers, offering more competitive games against top-quality opposition, giving players essential experience of international competition and reducing the gap between youth and first-team football.

The 2024 New Year Mega Lottery/NLO didn't end without new feats and records broken by a few special talents, from the over 10,000 players that took part in the season. 

Academy football in the world has a complex relationship with winning, it is rarely seen as a condition for player development but for 14-year-old Patrick Adeoluwanimi Akhidenor-Solanke, his celebration after becoming the youngest player to score a goal this season, demonstrates how much the feat meant to him.

Immensely gifted Nimi is a product of Provazios Sports Academy, owned by his father Segun Solanke. Regardless of his age, the boy wonder captained his team- Olumo United Football Club at the NLO Sagamu Centre and scored against Lasegski FC at the FC Ebedei Stadium. 

Segun Solanke talked about how he enrolled Nimi into the academy at the age of four years, and since then, Nimi’s young career has been enjoying tremendous growth and progress.

In 2023, Nimi told The Nation in an interview: "I want to win the Balon d’Or. My dad told me George Weah of Liberia is the only African footballer to have won the Ballon d’Or."

“Like my idols Messi and Ronaldo, I believe that with more hard work, discipline, perseverance, dedication and focus, I can bring home the honour in the near future,” 

The youngster has matched his words with action with the wonder strike against Lasegski FC. 

For Nimi's father, Segun, he's full of optimism about his prodigy. "In the next five years, we believe he would have become the youngest Nigerian to play for the Super Eagles and also, be playing in one of the top-flight leagues around the world. And particularly, playing for Real Madrid, as the wonder boy from Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the management of the third-tier domestic football league has expressed their happiness at Nimi's remarkable achievement. They believe it is a testament to their plans to develop Nigerian football by encouraging younger footballers to grow their careers and in the end, earn a good living from it.

NLO1: Five Star Ogonna Okoro inspires Dino Sporting Club to crumble Olumo

Dino Sporting Club delivered a resounding 12-0 victory over Olumo United in their recent clash in the Nationwide LeagueOne, NLO1 playoffs on Wednesday.

Led by the stellar performance of Ogonna Hyacinth, who netted an impressive five goals, Dino Sporting Club showcased their prowess on the field, securing their third win of the campaign.

Solomon Etim set the tone with a well-executed goal, followed swiftly by Ogonna Hyacinth's close-range strike to double the lead. 

Henry Madubuku extended the advantage with a successful penalty kick, while Zakari Haruna sealed the first half with a fourth goal just before halftime.

Returning from the break, Ogonna Hyacinth wasted no time in adding to the tally, securing his second goal of the game. 

The onslaught continued as Stephen Ende notched the sixth goal, before Ogonna Hyacinth completed his hat-trick in dazzling fashion just minutes later.

Undeterred, Ogonna Hyacinth continued his scoring spree, notching his fourth and fifth goals of the match with remarkable ease, further solidifying Dino Sporting Club's commanding lead. 

Jibril Mohammed then capped off the remarkable victory with a hat-trick of his own, completing the emphatic 12-0 triumph.

With this stunning win, Dino Sporting Club has firmly established their dominance in the NLO1 league, having won three out of their four games and securing a draw in the remaining fixture. 

Their formidable performance sends a clear message to their competitors as they aim for continued success in the league.