Multi-eligible Reading midfielder Olise first priority is to represent France amid Nigeria interest

Published: March 13, 2021

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Michael Olise's number one priority is to represent world champions France at international level amid serious interest from the Nigeria Football Federation.

The versatile Reading midfielder qualifies to represent France and Algeria through his mother, Nigeria through his father and England through citizenship.

The Nigeria Football Federation are hoping to steal a march on their competitors to the services of the highly-rated teenager after placing him on standby for the upcoming 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against the Republic of Benin and Lesotho.

A high-ranking Super Eagles official has informed this website that Olise was listed for the qualifiers simply because he is eligible to play for Nigeria, which does not necessarily mean that he has committed his international future to the Super Eagles.

Although Olise wants to take up the option of playing for France, he hasn't entirely closed the door on the prospect of turning out for Nigeria but the three-time African champions are down the pecking order as things stand.

The former Chelsea schoolboy is having a banner season at Reading, scoring 5 goals and assisting nine others in 33 appearances in the Championship.

Olise was recently rated the 10th most promising player of his age group in the world by Neuchâtel-based International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) - the only Nigeria-eligible player to rank among the top 25 for the 2000, 2001 and 2002 age groups.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : readingfc.co.uk

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