By Monsurah Olatunji
FC Dallas defender Osaze Urhoghide has declared his intention to represent Nigeria at international level, pledging his allegiance to the Super Eagles despite being eligible for both the Netherlands and England.
The 24-year-old, who was born in the Netherlands and moved to England at the age of five, has yet to represent either country at any youth level.
He is now eligible to don the Nigerian jersey and could feature in next month’s Unity Cup in London, where Nigeria will face Ghana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.
“I am ready to play for my fatherland, Nigeria,” Urhoghide said in a statement published by The Punch.
“I have informed family members of my readiness to play for the Super Eagles. I am also using this opportunity to let the Nigeria Football Federation know that I am ready.”
Urhoghide has been in impressive form since signing with FC Dallas in February 2025 for a club-record fee for a defender.
His performances in Major League Soccer have not gone unnoticed, as the Nigerian Football Federation continues to scout for talent in the diaspora ahead of a busy international calendar.
With Nigeria looking to rebuild ahead of upcoming continental and World Cup qualifiers, Urhoghide’s commitment adds depth to a defensive unit seeking consistency and long-term options.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
