David Ozoh, the highly-rated Crystal Palace midfielder currently on loan at Derby County, has been ranked fifth in the world for passing accuracy among U20 midfielders across 65 leagues, according to the International Centre for Sports Studies CIES.
Only Caleb Yirenkyi FC Nordsjælland, Warren Zaïre-Emery Paris Saint-Germain, Noah Nartey Brøndby, and Isak Vural Frosinone rank higher than Ozoh, who boasts an impressive 90.3 per cent pass completion rate. The 19 year old, born in Valencia to Nigerian parents and raised in England, has represented Crystal Palace 13 times across the Premier League, FA Cup, and Carabao Cup.
Ozoh, who is eligible to play for Spain, England, and Nigeria, has publicly expressed interest in representing Nigeria but is yet to be contacted by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Unfortunately, his promising loan spell at Derby County was cut short due to a season-ending injury. Despite this setback, his performances have not gone unnoticed, with scouts and analysts recognising his technical ability and vision on the ball.
The young midfielder has accumulated 25 senior appearances in his career and remains a player to watch for potential future Super Eagles inclusion.
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Editorial
David Ozoh’s remarkable passing accuracy is a reminder of the quality emerging from Nigeria’s diaspora talent pool. Ranking fifth globally among U20 midfielders for passing precision is no small achievement, and his calmness and consistency on the ball reflect attributes Nigeria could undoubtedly benefit from shortly.
It’s time for the Nigeria Football Federation to act. Far too often, we hear of talented dual nationals expressing interest in wearing the green and white, only to see them turn elsewhere due to slow or nonexistent engagement. Ozoh’s intention is clear he wants to play for Nigeria. We must not wait until he becomes a fixture in another national team setup before showing interest.
This young midfielder’s numbers speak for themselves, but beyond the stats lies a player with vision, maturity, and composure qualities the Super Eagles could use, especially in midfield. We believe the future of the national team lies in integrating homegrown talent with promising players from around the globe who proudly claim Nigerian heritage.
Ozoh’s journey is just beginning. With the right guidance and opportunity, he could soon be wearing the Super Eagles jersey, adding strength and accuracy to Nigeria’s midfield options. The time to reach out is now.
Did You Know?
- David Ozoh became Crystal Palace’s youngest-ever Premier League debutant in January 2023.
- He started his youth career at Crystal Palace at the age of eight.
- The Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Côte d’Ivoire, where Nigeria’s youth teams will play later this year, is named after the country’s late Prime Minister.
- Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s all-time top scorer, began his career at UNTL Kaduna a club that no longer exists.
- The current highest passing accuracy rate among U20 midfielders worldwide belongs to Caleb Yirenkyi, at 93.9%.
