Nigeria’s Magic Stars Face Sassuolo in High-Stakes Viarreggio Cup Clash
The stage is set for an electrifying showdown at the 75th Viarreggio Cup in Italy, as Nigeria’s Magic Stars FC gear up to battle Serie A side Sassuolo, alongside Australia’s Apia Leichhardt and Italy’s Casarano, in the group stage of the prestigious youth tournament.
Magic Stars, a rising academy from Lagos, will be eager to make their mark on the global stage, following in the footsteps of Beyond Limits Academy, who brought the trophy home to Nigeria last year. They won’t be the only Nigerian hopefuls in the competition—Ojodu City and Mavlon Academy are also in the mix, facing their own sets of tough European opponents.
Mavlon Academy finds itself in a challenging group with Fiorentina, Serbian powerhouse Stella Rossa, and Imolese, while Ojodu City will test their mettle against Torino, Pontedera, and Asteras Aktor.
The Viarreggio Cup, renowned for showcasing the best young football talent worldwide, will see its grand finale take place at the newly renovated Pini Stadium in Viareggio. Closed since 2018, the stadium is undergoing a major facelift and is set to reopen in the spring with a special celebration of sport, tradition, and history.
Tournament organizers are thrilled to bring the competition back to its roots. “Finally, the tournament returns to its home. For me, this is a dream come true,” said Alessandro Palagi, president of the Youth Soccer Center.
The action kicks off on March 17, with the final showdown scheduled for March 31. The women’s edition, the Viarreggio Women’s Cup, will run from March 17 to 21. With a mix of top-tier clubs and hungry underdogs, this year’s tournament promises to be one for the history books!
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