Crystal Palace's Michael Olise ranked as best Nigeria-eligible U20 player by CIES

Published: August 25, 2021

Nigeria Football Federation target Michael Olise has been named in the 43rd position in CIES Football Observatory's top-100 list of the best U20 footballers in the world.

The Neuchâtel-based research organization has listed the 100 footballers worldwide who did not yet celebrate their 20th birthday and gained the most experience in official senior matches over the course of the year (minutes weighted by sporting strength of employer clubs or competitions played).

Olise is the highest ranked player of Nigerian descent ahead of Red Bull Salzburg's Karim Adeyemi who is 55th in the list.

While the Anglo-Nigerian logged 1,889 minutes spread across 24 matches and scored three goals, Adeyemi tallied an impressive 12 goals in 33 matches and was in action for 1,293 minutes.

Olise was given an experience rating of 38, three more than Germany U21 international Adeyemi.

After putting himself in the shop window with a string of fine displays for Reading, Olise was courted by a plethora of Premier League and foreign clubs before Crystal Palace won the race for his services, signing the attacking midfielder on a five-year deal last month.

The 19-year-old has yet to make his debut for the Eagles as he is still recovering from a back injury which he suffered before his move to Selhurst Park.

The first position went to Pedri Gonzalez (Barcelona) followed by Mason Greenwood (Manchester United), Nuno Mendes (Sporting CP), Ryan Gravenberch (Ajax Amsterdam) and Matheus Martinelli (Fluminense) in that order.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : cpfc.co.uk

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