REPORT: Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise willing to dump Nigeria for AFCON rivals

Super Eagles have been dealt a huge blow in their attempts to lure Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise to play for the Nigerian national team after it was reported that the forward is interested in playing for another African country.

Olise had been linked with a senior international career with France after representing Les Bleus at Under-18 and Under-21 levels, but a new report indicates that the winger might be growing impatient with the lack of opportunities with the World Cup finalists.

The Crystal Palace man has not been called up for the senior French national team, despite a number of impressive performances in the Premier League with the Eagles, with players like Ousmane Dembele, Kingsley Coman, Antoine Griezmann, Marcus Thuram, and Christopher Nkunku all being favoured over him.

Born in London to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother, Olise can still play for Nigeria, France, and Algeria through his parents, and England due to his birth.

Olise is reportedly set to decide on his international career, according to reports from an Algerian journalist.

The journalist, @Djaameel_ on X, believes that Olise would be willing to leave his dreams of playing for France and choose to represent the Fennecs of Algeria instead.

With the 2023 AFCON quickly approaching, Algeria is gathering stars like former Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez and new converts from France, Houssem Aouar and Amine Gouiri, to play for the Dessert Warriors in Ivory Coast.

Olise could fit well into the current group of stars and would be a superb addition to the squad ahead of the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast coming up in January.