Nestor Irankunda, 20, was the hero of Australia's 2-0 victory over Turkey in this World Cup.
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The hero of Australia's 2-0 victory over Turkey in this World Cup is 20-year-old Nestor Irankunda. He scored the first goal in Vancouver. This is his sixth goal in 16 games for Australia. His team Australia plays the United States in Seattle on Friday. His journey from refugee camp to World Cup goal is full of courage.
His father is from the African country of Burundi. Due to the civil war there, his family reached a refugee camp in Kigoma, Tanzania. That's where Irankunda was born. He had two brothers and five sisters. Then his family moved to Perth, Australia, when Irankunda was only 3 years old. At the age of 15, he joined the Adelaide youth team.
Through the Adelaide senior team, he reached Bayern Munich in Germany. He did not get to play a single game there. Since last year, he has been playing for the English Championship team Watford. He has scored 4 goals in 40 games. He has been playing for the Australian national team since 2024.
