Nigerian football team Dazzle FC impresses at Denmark's 2026 Dana Cup tournament

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Lagos-based football academy, Dazzle FC, enjoyed a memorable outing at the 2026 Dana Cup in Hjørring, Denmark, with the club’s U-12 team emerging champions on their tournament debut, while the U-14 team finished runners-up after an impressive campaign.

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The Dana Cup, one of the world’s largest youth football tournaments, was held from July 20 to 25, attracting 946 teams from 56 countries.

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The competition featured about 2,600 matches across 62 pitches and welcomed nearly 30,000 participants from around the world.

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Dazzle FC’s U-12 team delivered a flawless performance in the Boys’ 7v7 category, winning all nine matches, scoring an astonishing 56 goals and conceding just six throughout the tournament.

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The Lagos-based academy announced its arrival on the international stage with a string of emphatic victories during the group stage, including a 17-0 win over SV Schwansen, among other convincing victories.

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The Nigerian youngsters maintained their momentum in the knockout stage, defeating Brazil’s RS Sports 2-1 in the semi-finals to book a place in the final.

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They capped a remarkable campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 extra-time victory over Mexican side IFAC in the final, with Akinremi Abdullahi scoring the decisive goal to hand Dazzle FC its first Dana Cup title.

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The academy’s U-14 team also impressed, progressing through the group stage before making a strong run to the final of the play-off competition.

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In the final, they faced Palestine’s Rawahel in a keenly contested match that ended level in regulation time before the Nigerian side lost 5-3 on penalties.

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Despite the defeat, Dazzle FC goalkeeper Ojerinde Toheeb was named the Best Player in the U-14 category.

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The shot-stopper kept three clean sheets in five matches, playing a pivotal role in his team’s run to the final.

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