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‘Didier Drogba 2.0’ scores a stunning volley to mark dream West Ham debut

West Ham United teenager Dara Akinlolu scored on his Under-18 debut this weekend, much to the delight of academy coach Luke Smith. It has been…

By Dan Owen · Hammers News

Published: Tuesday, 13 October 2026 at 12:00 PM

Key Things to Know

Dara Akinlolu scored an 89th-minute bicycle kick to equalize on his West Ham Under-18 debut against Norwich City.
Akinlolu had previously been nicknamed 'Didier Drogba 2.0' by The CCE Foundation during his youth development.
West Ham Under-18 coach Luke Smith praised Akinlolu alongside several other youth players for their performances.

The Story in 60 Seconds

West Ham United teenager Dara Akinlolu scored an 89th-minute bicycle kick on his Under-18 debut against Norwich City. The late equalizer earned the Hammers a point and drew praise from academy coach Luke Smith. Akinlolu previously earned the nickname 'Didier Drogba 2.0' while developing with The CCE Foundation.

The result leaves West Ham sitting sixth in the U18 Premier League South table after six games. Coach Luke Smith also highlighted strong performances from schoolboys Immanuel Adisa, Ivan Batista, and Jude Longman alongside defenders Harry Montague and Reon Smith.

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‘Didier Drogba 2.0’ scores a stunning volley to mark dream West Ham debut

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