Olise refused Eagles invitation in 2019 – Rohr

The revelation by former Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr that Michael Olise declined a Nigerian invitation as far back as 2019 sheds light on a significant missed opportunity for Nigerian football. Olise, a player of Nigerian descent, chose to represent France, a decision that underscores the complex pathways young talents often navigate when deciding their international allegiance.

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In 2019, I saw this player and had a look at him with my assistant, Tunde. We went to watch a match and tried to invite him, but he did not want to join us at the time. I think he already knew he could have a big future in a European team and could play for several countries, of course.

During Rohr's tenure, there was a concerted effort to bring foreign-born Nigerian players into the national team fold. However, Olise, then at Reading FC, apparently felt his future lay with European teams, a sentiment Rohr acknowledged. This decision, while understandable from a player's perspective seeking the highest level of competition, represents a loss for the Super Eagles, especially given Olise's subsequent rise to prominence.

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And this player, six or seven years ago when we saw him, he was so strong. Unfortunately, he refused to play for Nigeria.

Olise's journey from Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich has cemented his status as a global star. His impressive performances and potential, even being mentioned in Ballon d'Or discussions by former Nigerian captain Sunday Oliseh, highlight what might have been for Nigeria. While Olise now represents France, his case serves as a poignant reminder of the challenges in securing the commitment of dual-nationality players and the continuous need for robust talent identification and engagement strategies within Nigerian football.

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When I see the way Olise plays, I love it. But it gets me angry that I am saying Olise should not be wearing the French national team jersey; he should be wearing the green-white-green jersey of Nigeria.