Latest news with #FIFAU-17WorldCup
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Mixed results for South Africa's Under-20 teams in COSAFA Championship openers
Cape Town City and Amajimbos star Emile Witbooi is leading the charge for this young group in Namibia. Image: BACKPAGEPIX South Africa's U-20 national teams had contrasting starts to their COSAFA campaigns, with Amajita earning a thrilling 3-3 draw and Basetsana suffering a 3-0 defeat, both against Zambia. At the UNAM Stadium in Namibia, the defending champion Amajita side – made up primarily of U-17 players as part of a development push ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup – showed flashes of brilliance but were forced to share the spoils in a pulsating Group B encounter. South Africa took an early lead through Neo Bohloko before Zambia's Gabriel Phiri levelled matters shortly after. Emile Witbooi then struck again for Amajita, restoring their advantage and putting the young side in a strong position. But Zambia responded swiftly. Mapalo Simute brought the sides level once more, and Bongani Ndhlovu found the back of the net before halftime to make it 3-2 in favour of the Young Chipolopolo. That scoreline remained until the 80th minute when Njabulo Mzimela popped up at the far post to head home the equaliser and ensure a share of the points. Speaking after the match, Amajita assistant coach Thabo Mngomeni emphasised that the result was part of a broader developmental goal. 'I think it was wonderful, it was a learning curve,' said Mngomeni. 'What we wanted to achieve with this game, we did, since we're preparing this team for the World Cup. 'I think they got it spot on, we couldn't really achieve the way that we wanted to play. Zambia gave us the right test in terms of showing us where we should beef up our game. 'The players need to understand their roles during the game. Seemingly, we lose our concentration at times in the game, and that's just one of the things that we need to focus on and drive the boys towards more.' In contrast, it was a frustrating outing for Basetsana in their Group B opener in the women's competition. Zambia, the defending champions, ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Bwalya Chipeshe, Lweendo Hanongo, and Lombanya Mwewa. Despite the scoreline, Basetsana head coach Maud Khumalo found positives to build on. 'Tomorrow we have a rest day but we'll have to get back to the drawing board because I'm happy with 80% of the performance today, so we have to build on that,' said Khumalo. 'If you check the competition, Zambia is the strongest team here. We planned for them well, and it hurts to lose the game, but I'm 100% confident in my players moving forward.' Both national teams remain in contention for the knockout stages as the group phase continues.
The Irish Sun
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Man Utd target Victor Osimhen suffered tragic loss of mum and sold sachets of water on streets before breakthrough
VICTOR OSIMHEN is the man of the moment. His name, which means 'God is good' in his local Edo dialect, is fitting for someone whose journey reflects faith, grit and perseverance. 8 Osimhen shot to fame at the FIFA U-17 tournament in Chile with 10 goals Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 8 Osimhen at the extreme right with his Nigeria U-17 team in 2015 Credit: Nigerian U17 National Football team 8 Osimhen always wanted to play in the Premier League as a child Credit: INSTAGRAM Osimhen could soon be heading to Manchester United as Talks with Viktor Gyokeres collapsed after the striker was not happy with the Red Devils' offer and now wants to move to United are still in need of a striker and will now The move would cap a remarkable rise for the Napoli striker, who spent last season READ MORE IN FOOTBALL The Nigerian began life selling sachets of water on the streets of Lagos to survive. Watching him play today you can feel that hunger, a drive forged in the hustle of one of the world's toughest cities. For years his WhatsApp profile photo carried the words: 'Focus, hustle, and believe.' It's a mindset he still lives by. Even as global interest in him soars, Osimhen remains grounded in the values that shaped him into a world-class striker. Most read in Football His first coach, Chinedu Ogbenna, told SunSport in an exclusive interview from his base in Nigeria about how it all started for the striker Ogbenna said: 'I lived in the same compound where Victor was born. 'His father was a friend. I literally witnessed his first days on earth. 8 Osimhen with his sister while on holiday in Nigeria Credit: INSTAGRAM 'The house was a shared compound filled with kids. Even as a toddler, Victor would cry uncontrollably if the ball was taken from him. 'He could barely kick but he just needed the ball near him. That's where his love for football began. 'Life was hard, he lost his mother before he turned one. That's the kind of start he had, it tells you everything you need to know about his journey.' Breakout moment in Chile Osimhen first grabbed international attention when he won the Golden Boot at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015. Nigeria had only narrowly qualified after finishing fourth in the African Championship. Team media officer Morakinyo Abodunrin told SunSport how he witnessed first hand the growth of the man who will now become one of the best in the world. Sports DESK EP17_9_16 _AP_V3 He said: 'He wasn't the finished product when he joined, but something shifted in Chile. 'He asked the team manager for Nike boots and promised to score goals in them. I didn't even think we had any but he insisted. 'True to his word he dominated the tournament in those boots, scoring 10 goals and helping us lift the trophy.' His pace, power, and clinical finishing stood out but it was his mental toughness that truly separated him. 8 Osimhen goes back home to inspire the next generation when on holidays Credit: INSTAGRAM Losing his mother early and watching his father struggle without work gave him a resilience beyond his years. Osimhen opened up to He said: 'I lost my mom in October, I do not even remember the year. "I was small. Three months later, my father lost his job. It was very hard for our family. 'My brother sold sports newspapers, my sister, oranges in the street and me, bottled water in Lagos in the middle of the traffic. "We have to survive so we stick together. 'In the evening, we were all together and we gathered the money on the table. "We gave everything to our big sister and she made food and organized everything. 'Part of my life has been a struggle to survive. But that's all I am today in the end. It's hard to classify all that but each event has created my personality.' The tough beginnings have given him the resourcefulness to survive through the harder times in his career. Former He said: 'You know how we Africans are with our mothers and he didn't have his so I think he channeled that void. 'To be honest when he first came to us for trial I didn't see much in him in the first set of games he played. 'But one of my assistants said, 'Coach, that boy in green could have something.' So I gave him another shot in the second game. 'That's when it clicked, tall, strong in the air, quick feet, and raw hunger. You could tell he could go far. 'Normally when someone is that tall you don't expect them to be that good with their feet but he had it all.' 8 It was at Lille that the world started to take note of the Nigerian Credit: AP:Associated Press German setback Following his U-17 triumph, Osimhen signed for Germany . But he played just 14 games without scoring, overshadowed by experienced forwards like Mario Gomez and Divock Origi . He was loaned to Belgian side Charleroi, where he found his form, scoring 20 goals in one season. Speaking to The Nationonline, he said:'I wasn't shaken by the criticism at Wolfsburg. I believed in myself. 'Moving to Belgium proved that difficult times can be blessings in disguise. "Many Nigerians had come to Belgium before me and succeeded. I'm proud to be among them.' A star at Lille Charleroi exercised their option to buy him for just £3million, but that same summer, Lille swooped in, using funds from He made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his debut and later finding the net against Then-Chelsea manager Frank Lampard was full of praise after watching him closely for the first time: 'He's a striker with everything, fast, strong, and technically sound. 'I'd watched clips before the game, but seeing him live was different. He's impressive and his story is inspiring.' Osimhen finished as Lille's top scorer with 18 goals across all competitions attracting attention from Europe's elite. He chose 8 He was the star man as Napoli won a historic Serie A title Credit: Getty Superstardom in Naples In 2020, Napoli signed Osimhen for a club-record £70million making him the most expensive African player in history. After two solid seasons, he exploded in 2022/23. He had missed AFCON with a facial injury and had to wear a mask which prompted the Italian media to dub him the 'Masked Assassin'. Osimhen scored 26 goals in 32 league games as he led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years. He also broke George Weah's record to become the league's top-scoring African ever and won the Capocannoniere as Serie A's top scorer. In 2023, he placed 8th in the Ballon d'Or the first Nigerian ever in the top 10. But even at the height of success, tragedy struck again when his father, his biggest supporter, passed away during the COVID-19 pandemic. A fallout with Napoli followed, derailing a dream move to Chelsea . From being the club's icon he suddenly found himself sidelined, training alone, staring down six months without football. 8 Osimhan has continued his goalscoring form in Turkey Credit: Getty King of Istanbul Then Turkey . He scored 26 goals in 30 games leading Galatasaray to the league title. Since the transfer window opened he's turned down four offers from Saudi clubs including one that was offering wages of £40million-a-year. Where he goes next remains uncertain but one thing is clear, Victor Osimhen has fought through unimaginable odds. He didn't just climb the ladder, he built it one step at a time. He's earned his place among the best strikers in the world.
Qatar Tribune
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Hosts Qatar to face Italy in opener in FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025
Tribune News Network Doha With the official release of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 match schedule, football managers and team representatives shared their excitement for what will be a historic tournament. Set to take place in Qatar (3-27 November), this will be the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams. 'The tournament will be hosted in its entirety in the world-class Aspire Academy, with the final match to be held at Khalifa International Stadium, one of our historic Qatar 2022 venues,' said Rashid Al Khater, Executive Director of Operations of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). Al Khater added: 'This will be more than just a football tournament, as fans will be treated to a festival-like atmosphere where they can enjoy a robust fan zone that meets all their needs as they take in some exciting football matches.' Hosts Qatar have been drawn into group A alongside Italy, South Africa and Bolivia. The young Maroons will look to improve on Qatar's best performance in the tournament when they claimed fourth place in 1991. 'Having the Under-17 World Cup hosted in Qatar for five consecutive years provides young players with a wonderful opportunity to compete against the best teams in the world. This type of competition will have a great impact on the development of young players and will once again positively reflect Qatar's ability to host mega sporting events,' said Alvaro Perez, head coach of the Qatar under-17 team. Drawn alongside Qatar are South Africa. For head coach Vela Khumalo, the tournament has the potential to have global impact. The Amajimbos will be making their second appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after their debut in 2015. 'The tournament is important for the entire world. That is why we were so keen to qualify and participate in competition hosted by Qatar. The World Cup provides us with a platform to interact with teams and players from all around the world, which will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on the skills and abilities of our players,' said Khumalo. A total of 48 teams will play 104 matches over a period of 24 days. They have been divided into 12 groups. The first match will see hosts Qatar take on European giants Italy on 3 November. For the full match schedule, visit For all tournament related information, follow @RoadtoQatar on all major social media A: Qatar, Italy, South Africa, Bolivia Group B: Japan, Morocco New Caledonia, Portugal Group C: Senegal, Croatia Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji Group E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, Egypt Group F: Mexico, Korea, Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Switzerland Group G: Germany, Colombia, Korea DPR, El Salvador Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia Group I: USA, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czechia Group J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, Republic of Ireland Group K: France, Chile Canada, Uganda Group L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, and Saudi Arabia
The Hindu
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
FIFA U-17 World Cup schedule: Full list of Qatar 2025 matches, dates, venues, timings, groups
The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 in Qatar, the first to feature 48 teams, will take place between November 3 to 27. 'The tournament will be hosted in its entirety in the world-class Aspire Academy, with the final match to be held at Khalifa International Stadium, one of our historic Qatar 2022 venues,' said Rashid Al Khater, Executive Director of Operations of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC). DRAW RESULTS - GROUPS Host Qatar has been drawn into Group A alongside Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia. The young Maroons will look to improve on Qatar's best performance in the tournament when it claimed fourth place in 1991. 'Having the under-17 World Cup hosted in Qatar for five consecutive years provides young players with a wonderful opportunity to compete against the best teams in the world. This type of competition will have a great impact on the development of young players and will once again positively reflect Qatar's ability to host mega sporting events,' said Alvaro Perez, head coach of the Qatar under-17 team. Drawn alongside Qatar is South Africa. For head coach Vela Khumalo, the tournament has the potential to have global impact. The Amajimbos will be making their second appearance at the U-17 World Cup after their debut in 2015. 'The tournament is important for the entire world. That is why we were so keen to qualify and participate in the competition hosted by Qatar. The World Cup provides us with a platform to interact with teams and players from all around the world, which will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on the skills and abilities of our players,' said Khumalo. A total of 48 teams will play 104 matches over a period of 24 days. They have been divided into 12 groups. Group A: Qatar, Italy, South Africa, Bolivia Group B: Japan, Morocco, New Caledonia, Portugal Group C: Senegal, Croatia, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji Group E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, Egypt Group F: Mexico, Korea, Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Switzerland Group G: Germany, Colombia, Korea DPR, El Salvador Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia Group I: USA, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czechia Group J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, Republic of Ireland Group K: France, Chile, Canada, Uganda Group L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, Saudi Arabia The first match will see host Qatar take on European giant Italy on November 3. Read and download the full schedule here: FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 Related Topics FIFA U-17 World Cup
Qatar Living
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Living
Hosts Qatar to play Italy in FIFA U-17 World Cup opener
With the official release of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 match schedule, football managers and team representatives shared their excitement for what will be a historic tournament. Set to take place in Qatar between November 3 and 27, this will be the first FIFA World Cup to feature 48 teams. 'The tournament will be hosted in its entirety in the world-class Aspire Academy, with the final match to be held at Khalifa International Stadium, one of our historic Qatar 2022 venues,' said Rashid Al Khater, Executive Director of Operations of the Local Organizing Committee. Al Khater added: 'This will be more than just a football tournament, as fans will be treated to a festival-like atmosphere where they can enjoy a robust fan zone that meets all their needs as they take in some exciting football matches.' Hosts Qatar have been drawn into group A alongside Italy, South Africa, and Bolivia. The young Maroons will look to improve on Qatar's best performance in the tournament when they claimed fourth place in 1991. Qatar's second game will be against South Africa on November 6 while their third game will be against Bolivia on November 9. 'Having the under-17 World Cup hosted in Qatar for five consecutive years provides young players with a wonderful opportunity to compete against the best teams in the world. This type of competition will have a great impact on the development of young players and will once again positively reflect Qatar's ability to host mega sporting events,' said Alvaro Perez, head coach of the Qatar under-17 team. Drawn alongside Qatar are South Africa. For head coach Vela Khumalo, the tournament has the potential to have global impact. The Amajimbos will be making their second appearance at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after their debut in 2015. 'The tournament is important for the entire world. That's why we were so keen to qualify and participate in the competition hosted by Qatar. The World Cup provides us with a platform to interact with teams and players from all around the world, which will undoubtedly have a tremendous impact on the skills and abilities of our players,' said Khumalo. A total of 48 teams will play 104 matches over a period of 24 days. They have been divided into 12 groups. Group A: Qatar, Italy, South Africa, Bolivia Group B: Japan, Morocco New Caledonia, Portugal Group C: Senegal, Croatia Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates Group D: Argentina, Belgium, Tunisia, Fiji Group E: England, Venezuela, Haiti, Egypt Group F: Mexico, Korea, Republic, Côte d'Ivoire, Switzerland Group G: Germany, Colombia, Korea DPR, El Salvador Group H: Brazil, Honduras, Indonesia, Zambia Group I: USA, Burkina Faso, Tajikistan, Czechia Group J: Paraguay, Uzbekistan, Panama, Republic of Ireland Group K: France, Chile Canada, Uganda Group L: Mali, New Zealand, Austria, Saudi Arabia
