Joshua Udoh, a 17-year-old Nigerian midfielder, has written his name into the record books by becoming the youngest African player to feature in a FIFA Club World Cup match.
Udoh came on in the 90th minute for Al Ain in their Group G clash against Juventus at the ongoing FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. Although Udoh’s late cameo came in a heavy 5-0 defeat to the Italian giants, the significance of his debut was not lost.
At just 17 years and 349 days, the talented midfielder is now the youngest Nigerian and African to play at the prestigious tournament. Udoh’s appearance marked his professional debut and offered a proud moment for both Al Ain and African football.
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His brief introduction, replacing Soufiane Rahimi, was a tactical nod from manager Vladimir Ivic to give the teenager a taste of elite competition.
Juventus dominated the match, delivering a commanding performance. Randal Kolo Muani and Francisco Conceição each scored twice, and Kenan Yildiz added another.
Juventus controlled proceedings from the opening whistle, combining direct wing play with intricate movement through the middle. Costa and Cambiaso were threats on the flanks, while Thuram and Kalulu constantly disrupted Al Ain’s backline with smart runs.
Kolo Muani opened the scoring with a powerful header from a Costa cross before Conceição made it two after capitalizing on a defensive scramble.
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Yildiz’s long-range strike made it three inside half an hour. Kolo Muani’s second, following a long ball from Thuram, and Conceição’s solo effort in the second half sealed an emphatic result.
Joshua Udoh has starred for the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria
Al Ain’s best moments came after the break when VAR disallowed a goal for offside and Kodjo Laba forced a fine save from Di Gregorio.
But despite occasional bursts from Rahimi and Traoré, the Emirati side never threatened to mount a comeback. Juventus now looks ahead to fixtures against Wydad Casablanca and Manchester City, while for young Udoh, a milestone night ends in personal triumph amid collective disappointment.
The young midfielder continues to develop his skills and fans as well as pundits alike will be keeping a close eye on his progress. With his professional debut already under his belt, Udoh’s future in the sport looks bright. The teenager’s achievement will undoubtedly inspire other young African players to pursue their dreams in football.
