Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has expressed disappointment that Bayern Munich forward Michael Olise chose France over Nigeria.

Before making a cap-tying appearance for France, Olise was eligible to represent Nigeria through his father, England by birth, and Algeria through his mother’s heritage.

The then quad-national player represented only France, featuring at U18, U21, U23 and senior levels.

Despite efforts by the Nigeria Football Federation to persuade Olise to play for the Super Eagles, those attempts proved unsuccessful, as he had already committed to representing Les Bleus from the outset.

He was named by former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr in the squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin and Lesotho, but did not feature in either match and also skipped a planned meeting with former NFF president Amaju Pinnick in London ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

"When I see Olise play, he gets me so angry. I'm just saying this guy should not be wearing the French national team jersey; he should be wearing the green-white-green of Nigeria," Oliseh said on Global Football Insights with Oliseh.

"This is why our people are funny. Some even sent messages asking why I sabotaged us—your son went to play for France. He's not my son, and his own Olise does not even have an 'h' at the end of it."

Despite his disappointment over Olise's international choice, Oliseh was full of praise for the Bayern Munich dazzler. 

"And he's so good. I have a confession to make. When he was doing great at Crystal Palace, I was saying to myself, 'This guy is good, but maybe he's missing something'. 

"But when I see him now at Bayern, I say to myself, 'This guy one day might also contest for the Ballon d'Or because he is so good'. 

"Now you are seeing defenders feeling helpless against him; they even foul him and insult him to provoke him, and he's a quiet person".

Since making his senior debut for France in a UEFA Nations League clash with Italy in September 2024, Olise has four goals and three assists in fifteen appearances. 

Michael's younger brother, Chelsea right-back Richard Olise, remains eligible to play for Nigeria, despite representing England's Young Lions.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: fff.fr