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Italy Calling! — Buruj Midfield Stars Raheem Salaudeen, Fawas Adeleke Shortlisted by European Scouts After Stunning U-20 Tournament Performances
Buruj Football Club’s rising stars Raheem Moyinoluwa Salaudeen and Fawas Ayomide Adeleke have taken another giant step toward international football after emerging among the shortlisted players selected by European scouts during the prestigious Italian Consulate General U-20 Football Tournament Cup 2026.
The talented midfield duo produced outstanding performances throughout the competition, dazzling spectators and scouts alike with their creativity, composure, intelligence, and attacking brilliance in midfield.
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Their performances did not go unnoticed.
Following the conclusion of the scouting phase of the tournament, both players were officially identified among the competition’s most promising young talents and are now being considered for a potential football development opportunity in Italy.
The tournament, organized to create international pathways for talented Nigerian footballers, has become one of the most important youth football showcases in the country, attracting scouts and football development partners from Europe.
For Buruj Football Club, the recognition of Raheem and Fawas represents another major breakthrough in the academy’s growing reputation for producing elite young talents capable of competing on the global stage.
A major highlight of the initiative is the opportunity for selected players to travel to Italy for a two-week football trial programme, where they will further showcase their abilities while gaining international exposure and professional development experience.
The Grand Finale of the competition is scheduled for 7th June 2026, where participating teams and exceptional players will receive awards and recognition for their performances during the tournament.
Raheem Moyinoluwa Salaudeen, already regarded as one of the academy’s leading young prospects, continues to strengthen his profile with consistent performances, leadership qualities, and national youth team experience.
Fawas Ayomide Adeleke has also continued to attract attention with his technical quality, attacking vision, and ability to influence games at crucial moments.
Together, both midfielders are becoming symbols of Buruj Football Club’s ambitious football project and its commitment to producing future Nigerian and international stars.
For Buruj Football Club, Italy may just be the next chapter in a rapidly growing success story.
Ahead of the 2026/2027 NNL season, teams have intensified preparations with the recruitments of new players and officials, as well as, engaging in trial games.
Lagos based NNL side Smart City Football Club, are leaving no stones unturned as it has doubled up its preparations to ensure it gets the much desired ticket to the topmost cadre of Nigerian football, Nigeria Premier Football League.
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Speaking exclusively with Sports Chronicle Magazine, Abiodun Obafemi, who is the sporting director of Smart City FC, disclosed that the team is well prepared and better motivated ahead of the season’s task.
“We’re presently done with recruitments, we rounded up everything last week. So, we’re basically in the last phase of our preparations, with grade A friendly games lined up,” he disclosed.
Speaking on the targets of the management, Abiodun Obafemi, MON and a 1996 Olympic games gold medalist, said, “the target of all, including coaches, players and the leadership of team, of course, is to pick the sole NPFL ticket in our group.”
“We don’t just want to talk the talk, we want to do it this time around to make amend for the near misses of the last two seasons,” the former Super Eagles and Stationery Stores defender was full of praises for the management of the team for its commitment to the welfare and improvement of the team, ahead of the new football league season.
“In terms of motivation, the management has usual, has done their bit. And I can say that no Smart City player or official is being own a dime.
“Muchmore, there has been additional provisions of quality training materials, as well as, world class and modern football equipment,” he remarked gleefully.
“In my roles as a senior executive of the club, I remain committed to the development of the club, as well as, ensuring that all the units of the team, functions at their best to meet our seasonal goals. And our main objective this season, is promotion to the NPFL, which is long overdue,” he added.
Smart City FC have been placed in group B, and are expected to competed for the sole ticket to the NPFL, against other teams in the group, including, Beyond Limits FC, Ekiti United, Solution FC, Akwa United, Dokkal Khairu, Abakaliki FC, Bayelsa United and Right2Win FC.
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