By Maxwell Kumoye
FC Dallas found their rock this season, and his name is Osaze Urhoghide. Towering, relentless, and impossible to ignore, the 6'4” Dutch-born Nigerian has been crowned FC Dallas MLS Defender of the Season, capping off a campaign that has electrified fans both in the United States and back home in Nigeria.
And now, the whispers have turned to shouts: Should Osaze get a Super Eagles call-up?
This year, Urhoghide didn’t just defend, he dominated. Week after week, the Edo-rooted powerhouse stood tall for Dallas, marshaling the back line with authority and confidence.
His season-defining moment came on the final day, a thunderous, decisive goal, his second of the year, that sealed Dallas’ playoff berth and earned him MLS Player of the Week, sharing the spotlight with none other than Lionel Messi.
Dallas would eventually fall in the playoffs to Thomas Müller’s FC Vancouver, but Osaze’s stock had already skyrocketed.
His rise has been anything but straightforward. After bouncing through Europe with stops at Celtic, Ostende, and Amiens, Urhoghide finally found stability in Texas.
The payoff? 31 matches, 2 goals, countless saves, and the full respect of the league. Now he walks away with both Player of the Year and Defender of the Season, a rare double that speaks volumes.
But for Osaze, the accolades only tell half the story.
“Winning the Defender of the Season award is a great honor, but it’s not just about me,” he said. “It’s about the team. I’m proud of what we built this season. Next year, I want even more, maybe at the international level if I’m invited.”
That invitation is now the hottest topic in Nigerian football circles. After the heartbreak of missing the World Cup, many Nigerians are demanding a reset—new hunger, new energy, new warriors. Urhoghide fits the mold.
Power. Consistency. Leadership. Commitment.
And above all, a burning desire to represent Nigeria.
He’s already thinking beyond football too, revealing plans to return home during the off-season for charity work, giving back to communities, inspiring young kids, and using football as a tool for change.
“I want to give back. I want to inspire Nigerian kids to chase their dreams,” he said. “Football can change lives, and I want to be part of that.”
Now, the ball rests at the feet of Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle.
With the Nations Cup on the horizon and defensive frailties exposed in recent months, the question practically screams:
Will Eric Chelle hand Osaze Urhoghide the green-white-green jersey?
If form, heart, and hunger mean anything, the answer may already be written.
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