Latest news with #Under-20WorldCup
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Hugo Broos encourages South Africa's Under-20 heroes to aim for Bafana Bafana selection
Broos has words of encouragement Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos speaks at the ceremony to welcome home the South Africa Under-20 team after they won the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations title on Sunday. Photo: Phakamisa Lensman/BackpagePix 'Everything starts now for you,' Broos said when greeting the players at OR Tambo International in Johannesburg. 'You are on a crossroads. If you take the right direction I'll be seeing you back next year in Bafana Bafana in big stadiums here in South Africa, or maybe abroad. The all-conquering Amajita arrived back in South Africa on Tuesday afternoon after beating Morocco in Sunday's CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations final in Cairo. Not only did they win the continental crown, they also booked their spot in the Under-20 World Cup in Chile later this year. 'Or you can take the other way and that's the wrong way. You have every opportunity to enjoy a fulfilling career as a professional football player for the next 10 to 12 years, and believe me it's the nicest profession you can imagine. 'But you still have to work very hard in the next months. I hope you guys take the right lifestyle this is very important to achieve.' Broos also had some words for coach Mdaka, who had to scramble to put the team together after some key players were withdrawn by their clubs ahead of the tournament. 'I followed every game, and I have to congratulate you coach first of all for the motivation you did in that team. When you saw them playing, they were motivated they wanted to do a big result. 'I say congratulations for the tactical moves you had, for the fantastic mentality that showed on the field. I think you did a very great job to bring this trophy here to South Africa.' IOL Sport
IOL News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
SABC secures broadcasting rights for Under-20 Afcon final between South Africa and Morocco
Amajita into the final South African players celebrate after beating Nigeria to qualify for the final of the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/AFP The SABC have announced that they've secured the rights to broadcast Sunday evening's Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations final between South Africa and Morocco. Amajita became the darlings of South African sport earlier this week when they defeated Nigeria 1-0 to book their spot in Sunday's final. Their performances at the tournament confirmed their place in the Under-20 World Cup in Chile later this year. The coverage of the final in Cairo will begin at 7.30pm on Sunday, with the game kicking off at 8pm. The match will put South Africa, whose national teams are going through a footballing renaissance, against Morocco, whose senior side made history in Qatar in 2022 when they became the first African nation to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Amajita's historic win: South Africa defeat Nigeria to reach Under-20 Afcon final
Amajita beat Nigeria Tylon Smith celebrates with teammates after scoring South Africa's winning goal during their CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix Tylon Smith scored the only goal of the game as South Africa beat Nigeria 1-0 to advance to the final of the CAF Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo on Thursday. Smith's 66th minute header was enough to earn the win and send Amajita, who had already qualified for the Under-20 World Cup, into the final of the tournament. South Africa will take on the winner of the second semi-final between Morocco and hosts Egypt. In a tight encounter, South Africa's discipline at the back proved to be the deciding factor against a Flying Eagles side that looked the better team on the night. The Nigerians had 21 shots at goal, compared to South Africa's six, and saw more of the ball. But, they weren't able to breach Fletcher Smythe-Lowe's goal. The 18-year-old Smythe-Lowe produced a number of top saves to deny Emmanuel Chukwu and Israel Ayuma from scoring for the Nigerians.
New York Times
14-05-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Taiwo Awoniyi is resourceful, warm and has repeatedly defied the odds
When he was growing up in Ilorin, Nigeria, Taiwo Awoniyi had to be fiercely practical to fulfil his football dream. His family were unable to pay for the boots he required to play and train in. So, when he found himself with only a damaged pair, he found another that had been thrown away and glued and sewed them together. Advertisement Resourcefulness and determination have been a core part of his character throughout his journey to the Premier League. Those traits will be called upon now after he was placed into an induced coma following the serious abdominal injury he suffered in Nottingham Forest's game against Leicester City on Sunday. Awoniyi, a devout Christian, is often described as being warm and friendly by his team-mates — a nice man. Somebody whose trademark broad smile is a constant. At Forest he is fondly known simply as 'T', a nickname that is the physical representation of his broad-shouldered frame. His early resilience was rewarded when he represented Nigeria at the Under-17 World Cup in 2013, helping them to lift the trophy with four goals. He represented his country in the Under-20 World Cup in 2015, shortly after winning the African Under-20 Championship. All of that was enough to persuade then Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp of his potential, with Awoniyi joining via a £400,000 ($533,000 at current rates) move from the Imperial Soccer Academy. Awoniyi had another hurdle to overcome when issues over his work permit meant he never made a senior appearance for Liverpool — and left him to lead a nomadic existence, which involved seven loan moves to clubs including FSV Frankfurt, Mainz (both Germany), NEC (Netherlands) and Gent (Belgium). But it was a move to Union Berlin in 2020 that kickstarted his career. The two years Awoniyi spent there, the first being on loan, were a very special time for the club. They had just been promoted to the Bundesliga for the first time the year before, and were a close group of players with a common cause under head coach Urs Fischer. Union gave Awoniyi a foothold in the professional game. Finally, he had a proper footballing home. His first season coincided with the Covid-19 lockdown and, initially, that kept him at arm's length from the fans. That period of playing in empty stadiums must have been unbearable for a club where the fans are the lifeblood, and for a player who, so often in the months after, seemed powered by the energy from the stands. Advertisement Year two, though, when the crowds came back and Awoniyi became a permanent Union player — a fussballgott — was a different matter. The season before, Union had qualified for European football for the first time and Awoniyi went on to score the club's first goal in the Europa Conference League, in the play-offs, against Finnish side Kuopion Palloseura. And he just kept scoring. Fifteen in the league alone. Right foot, left foot, power, speed, technique. Awoniyi was the perfect fit for Fischer's football, which depended on a rigid defence and a white-hot counter, but he was ruthlessly efficient, too. But there was more to it than that. Find some of his post-game interviews. He was not in Germany long enough to master the language, but he had a go and was happy to try out what he knew into a live microphone — always with a giggle. He also scored the goal which secured Union's qualification for the Europa League, prodding home late against Bochum in front of the ultras at the Alte Forsterei to start a wild celebration, with him underneath a big pile of Union players and the club's mascot, Ritter Keule. Later, as the fans gathered in front of the stadium, he grabbed a microphone and led them in chanting his own name. It is a special memory for anyone lucky enough to have been there. Awoniyi would never play for Union again, but nobody will forget his role in their journey. Speaking to The Athletic, a club spokesperson described him as 'a beautiful, gentle soul. We all just hope he gets better'. In late June 2022, Awoniyi became one of 22 signings in a remarkable summer at Nottingham Forest. With the club having paid £17.5m to Union for the then 24-year-old, he was also the club's record signing. But, even with the status that brought, within two months of his arrival, Awoniyi had found the time to finish a business management degree at Buckinghamshire University. Advertisement Forest themselves had put plenty of research into his signing, with the Bundesliga regarded as a good-value source of quality additions. He had been on their watch list for months, long before promotion had been secured via the Championship play-offs. The recruitment team, led by George Syrianos — who had moved from Stuttgart to Forest himself in 2021 — felt Awoniyi was equipped to replace the physical presence of Keinan Davis, who had been on loan from Aston Villa during the promotion push. When he arrived in Nottingham, Awoniyi was a little shy and withdrawn but quickly became more confident and established himself as a popular figure. But he is not always easy on the eye. He can look a clumsy, uncertain presence at times. In training sessions following his move, his tentative performances only helped to solidify such opinions, even despite the fact he scored Forest's first Premier League goal in 23 years, in a 1-0 win over West Ham United. When Syrianos and head scout Andy Scott departed the club in October 2022, the lack of impact made by Awoniyi — a player Syrianos in particular had championed — was a factor. But there was always a belief that Awoniyi would come good; that his capabilities would shine through. And they did. In emphatic, vital fashion. Behind the scenes the club realised they had been too quick to rush to judgement on a player who can look unorthodox, while still being effective. By the following summer, the opinion had changed so significantly that they had even reappointed Syrianos, who is now the global technical director across the Evangelos Marinakis multi-club group, which also includes Olympiacos in Greece and Portugal's Rio Ave. Awoniyi scored the goals that kept Forest in the Premier League. They would not be where they are now without him. GO DEEPER Taiwo Awoniyi, Evangelos Marinakis and Nuno Espirito Santo - What happened? His 10 league goals during the 2022-23 season were integral to Forest's top-flight survival, with six of them coming in the final four games as Steve Cooper's side edged themselves over the finishing line. Awoniyi's goal against Arsenal at the City Ground on May 20, 2023 remains one of the most memorable moments of recent years at Forest, as it secured the 1-0 victory that was enough to ensure a second consecutive season in the top flight. Advertisement His goal (also in a 1-0 home win) against Liverpool the previous October was another massive contribution, helping to win a game that convinced Forest they did belong at this level. Cooper had assured Awoniyi he would be a potent weapon if he could lure the Liverpool defenders into a physical battle. He was right. The striker is an explosive presence on the pitch. His style of play pushes his body to its physical limits. That has perhaps been a factor in the injury issues that have limited his impact over the past two seasons. Those 10 league goals in 2022-23 came from 17 starts and 10 substitute appearances, as he dealt with a groin issue which ruled him out between early January and the start of April, causing him to miss 13 straight games. While he began the following campaign with another three goals, the injury problems returned. Overall, he scored six goals in 12 starts and eight substitute appearances in the Premier League, but further treatment to repair a groin injury left him sidelined from mid-November to late January. A thigh injury later ruled him out for six weeks in March and April. Last summer, he missed Forest's pre-season training camp in Spain because of a family issue, which left him playing catch-up on his sharpness, while the form of Chris Wood — he scored his 20th Premier League goal of the campaign against Leicester at the weekend — has meant he has been relegated to a peripheral role. Awoniyi has started three league games, while making a further 23 substitute appearances. His one Premier League goal came in a 3-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers in January. He also scored in the FA Cup at Exeter City when given a starting opportunity — and suffered a badly broken nose. The manner in which he threw himself bravely at Anthony Elanga's cross on Sunday afternoon, before colliding with the upright, perfectly epitomises the bravery and determination that Awoniyi possesses.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'I want to get under their skin' - arch-pest Pollock aims for Leinster
Investec Champions Cup semi-final: Leinster v NorthamptonDate: Saturday 3 May Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin Kick-off: 17:30 BSTCoverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and BBC Radio Northampton Courtney Lawes called him a "cocky little" Ludlam's description, external is similarly difficult to Itoje opted for "absolutely annoying" and "a pest".And they are Henry Pollock's Freeman, who plays alongside Pollock for England and Northampton, smiles at the inevitable question."What's Henry really like? You can probably guess what he is like..."A lot of people have been asking. Because a lot of people have been is not just what Pollock has done in the past 12 months - winning the Under-20 World Cup, scoring two tries on his senior England debut, being nominated for the Champions Cup player of the year, preparing to line up against Leinster in Saturday's semi-final and butting into the Lions selection is the way he has done 20-year-old back row has swagger and self-possession, and a side order of has been no dutiful trade-learning and just prodigious talent, Tigger-ish energy, galloping pace and a presumption that the world is his for the gets people talking. And has done for a months ago a video circulated among Bedford's had been told that Pollock, then only 18, was joining them in the Championship on loan."He came with a little bit of a reputation as he was very well thought of by Saints' academy," says Bedford's Alex Woolford."This viral clip of him did the rounds among us. He was being interviewed after an England Under-18 win over South Africa and swore three times in about 10 seconds."We knew he was going to be very enthusiastic." He was."We were pretty poor in the first half against Ampthill," adds Woolford, remembering Pollock's first start."Henry tried to give us the hairdryer treatment. He was effing and blinding and telling us we were not good enough and I remember thinking 'bloody hell, what is this kid doing?'"But you have to give him credit."In rugby environments it is very easy to get confidence confused with arrogance. For all the stick he gets, I don't actually think he is an arrogant person." Still, that perception and Woolford say Pollock is a different, calmer character off the pitch, and his Northampton team-mates assured the rest of the England camp that the incoming youngster wasn't the "idiot" they were expecting., external Their PR work was duly undermined by Pollock gleefully ripping the ball from Ollie Chessum when tasked with holding a tackle shield in an early training drill."Probably some of the boys were quite shocked with how I was when I first joined up with England," Pollock told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly."But I guess over time they realised this is just him."I am quite loud, someone that just brings a different type of energy to other types of players. Whether that is good or bad energy depends who you are talking to." There are plenty of Franklin's Gardens kids wear his distinctive black head tape and make cardboard signs asking for Pollock's love his celebrations. A basketball-style finger-roll lob in the direction of a beaten defender against Castres and an extravagant swallow dive against Bristol were two recent efforts. They love his cunning. Pollock cheekily pulling the sock of Wales prop Gareth Thomas to milk a penalty gained social media traction during the Six they love his abrasive style as he goes nose-to-nose with the opposition, raising tempers and the stakes."I want to entertain and get the crowd as close as possible to the team," he told BBC Radio Northampton's Saints Show."When I was growing up there, there was a lack of a idols. There were one or two that stick in my mind - Courtney Lawes, Michael Hooper, Richie McCaw - but not many."For this game to grow and this sport to get bigger, we need more characters, more players the fans want to come and watch."If you look to the football world, fans very much have their players and the personalities they like." Pollock is harder to warm to when you are up against Pollock's Bedford team-mate, also faced him in the Blues' annual pre-season fixture against Saints."On the pitch he is very loud, very confrontational, very in-your-face," Woolford remembers."He just exhausts you, as much mentally and emotionally as physically. But he has backed it up at every level he has stepped up to."In the teams' most recent match, one Bedford player attempted to sledge back at Pollock, suggesting he would be back with the Blues on loan by by then, Pollock was a Premiership regular."Being annoying is part of my game," Pollock agrees."I want to wind the opposition up; I want to get under their skin. It is something I relish."This weekend he will be digging into Leinster in a re-run of last season's Champions Cup Irish giants could field back-row trio Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier and Jack Conan."It is probably one of the best back rows there is," says Pollock. "I am just excited to be able to say I played against them. To share the field with them is special."But the deference won't last past the first whistle."They are beatable," he adds. "We definitely see parts of their game we can attack and go after and hopefully ruffle a few feathers."If Pollock's streak of success extends to the Aviva Stadium and his final and toughest Lions audition, he could well make the squad cut five days later."I have heard the rumours and stuff, but as a player you can't control that," he says."I just have to keep playing well, and if it happens, it happens."So far in his career, things invariably do.
