
Soccer
12 Jul 2025 | 09:52 |
Nigerian striker Ogundana Shola, 20, has once again gained attention behind the scenes at Flamengo . A standout in the youth ranks, the youngster received a loan offer from Volta Redonda, but the Flamengo board decided to reject the offer. The priority, at this point, is to count on the athlete for the U-20 Club World Cup final, scheduled for August 23rd at the Maracanã, against Barcelona of Spain .
The rejection of the club from the interior of Rio de Janeiro wasn't just institutional. Shola's continued presence has the direct support of Bruno Pivetti, the new coach of Flamengo's U-20 team, who considers the striker a key player in the squad. The coach believes his presence is crucial to the team's hopes in the international final.
Behind the scenes, Flamengo believes that releasing Shola now would weaken the youth academy's planning, especially with an unprecedented final at home. The decision was made by mutual agreement between the coaching staff, youth football department, and board.
The club's vision goes beyond the World Cup. Internally, Shola is considered a valuable asset for the future. The plan is to monitor his development until the end of the season, with the possibility of a more consistent participation in the professional squad in 2025. At the same time, Flamengo is also evaluating the potential for a future sale to the international market.
Shola has amassed significant achievements with the red-and-black team. He was a two-time U-20 Libertadores champion and a world champion in the category, titles that put him in the spotlight at Ninho do Urubu. Despite his prominence in the U-20 team, the striker is still seeking a place and regular appearances in the main squad. So far, he has played five professional matches, split between the Brazilian Championship and the Carioca Championship in the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Coach Filipe Luís will have a decisive activity to choose the Mengão that will take to the field this Sunday (5) against the tricolor for the Brazilian Championship
04 Out 2025 | 07:59 |
Coach Filipe Luís still has doubts about defining the Flamengo lineup that faces Bahia, this Sunday (05), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Arena Fonte Nova, for the 27th round of the Brasileirão. The last training session before the match takes place on Saturday morning (04), at 9:30 am , at Ninho do Urubu.
The training session will be crucial for the coach to assemble the starting lineup and find replacements for the suspended Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro. Danilo and Ayrton Lucas are expected to fill the defensive spots , alongside Léo Ortiz and Varela. Even so, Filipe Luís may opt to rest some players, as the squad is facing a marathon of decisive matches.
On Friday (03), the starters from the draw against Cruzeiro only carried out regenerative activities , which leaves this Saturday's training session as the only opportunity for tactical adjustments. The team travels in the afternoon to Salvador, the location of the clash.
The tendency is for Filipe Luís to send onto the field a Flamengo with: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Danilo and Ayrton Lucas; Saúl (De La Cruz), Jorginho and Arrascaeta; Plata (Carrascal), Samuel Lino (Everton Cebolinha) and Pedro (Bruno Henrique).
After training, the squad will have lunch at Ninho do Urubu and then travel to Salvador, with an estimated arrival time of late afternoon . With 55 points and leading Série A, Flamengo is looking for a victory over Bahia, who is sixth with 40 points, to remain firmly in the title race.
Mengão faces Tricolor with important absences in defense, while the Bahian team has 13 confirmed absences for the duel at Fonte Nova
03 Out 2025 | 22:30 |
Flamengo will have two important absences for the duel against Bahia, this Sunday (5), at 6:30 pm, at Arena Fonte Nova, for the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship . Defender Léo Pereira and full-back Alex Sandro received their third yellow card in the goalless draw against Cruzeiro and are serving an automatic suspension.
Alex Sandro was cautioned in the 11th minute for a hard foul on Christian without the ball. Léo Pereira was booked for fouling Kaio Jorge, accumulating infractions that resulted in a suspension . The absence of the duo forces changes in the red-and-black defense.
With the absences, coach Filipe Luís is expected to make changes. The likely starting lineup includes Rossi; Varela (or Emerson Royal), Danilo, Léo Ortiz, and Viña (or Ayrton Lucas); Jorginho (Allan or De La Cruz), Saúl, and Arrascaeta; Samuel Lino, Gonzalo Plata (or Carrascal), and Pedro . Leading the table with 55 points, Flamengo is looking to open up a gap over Palmeiras and Cruzeiro, who are closely tied.
On the other side, Bahia faces a crisis of absences. There are 13 confirmed absences—between suspensions and injuries—in addition to doubts like Ramos Mingo, who was injured in the last match. The Esquadrão, currently sixth with 40 points , will face an even greater challenge against the championship leader.
Tricolor faces Mengão this Sunday in the Brasileirão with 13 confirmed absences; see the full list of absences and probable lineup
03 Out 2025 | 21:03 |
Bahia will have great difficulties when facing Flamengo this Sunday (5), in the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship. The team led by Rogério Ceni has 13 absences, a record number of the season , for the clash at Arena Fonte Nova, in Salvador, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time).
The Tricolor de Aço will have absences across all positions: goalkeeper, defense, full-backs, midfield, and attack. Nine players are injured and four are suspended, forcing the coach to resort to an alternative formation to face the league leaders.
Among the players missing are Luciano Juba, Rodrigo Nestor, Santiago Arias, and Sanabria , as well as players recovering from injuries like Kanu and Erick. The situation forces Ceni to assemble a new defense and even consider potential debutants.
With so many absences, Rogério Ceni should send an alternative team to the field against Flamengo : Ronaldo; Gilberto, Fredi, Rezende and Zé Guilherme; Acevedo, Jean Lucas and Everton Ribeiro; Kayky, Iago Borduchi (or Michel Araújo, Tiago or Cauly) and Willian José.