The decision by Crystal Palace midfielder Michael Olise to shun a call up to the senior national team of Nigeria has been explained by the player.
Two years ago, While at English Championship side Reading, the then 19-year-old was placed on stand-by by ex Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr in his 24-man list for the final two Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Benin Republic and Lesotho respectively.
The games were later postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic but by May of the same year, the former France U18 midfielder accepted a call to be a part of the French U20 team and he hasn’t been given a call up by Nigeria after that incident.
Now an established player in the English Premier League for Crystal Palace, Olise who was a part of the French U21 team for their last international engagement before the start of the World Cup explained that he has at all time preferred the French national team.
” I have always wanted to play for France even though I had England, Nigeria and Algeria as other options. In the French set up I want to be a key player and I know it starts with getting regular run of games for Crystal Palace”, he said.