Determined to ensure only the best players play for the Super Eagles, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) top brass are planning to persuade Crystal Palace winger, Michael Olise, to embrace Nigeria over France, The Guardian can report.
A source at the Glass House revealed that the country’s soccer governing body is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that Olise, who is provisionally cap-tied to France, abandons his plans to play for Les Bleus after he was dropped from their Euros squad by manager Didier Deschamps.
“The NFF, under the watchful eyes of President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, is bent on ensuring that only the best play for Nigeria. That is why I can confidently tell you that the board is working around the clock to arrange talks with Michael Olise sooner than expected.
“Ex-President Amaju Pinnick tried his best to bring in Olise and Eberechi Eze. The current board won’t give up on that dream,” the NFF insider revealed.
It would be recalled that Super Eagles gaffer, Finidi George, stated in clear terms that he is bent on luring more talented players with dual nationality to the senior national team, provided such players are willing to play for the country.
Speaking at Wednesday’s media briefing, the former Enyimba International coach called for caution, stating that it takes many procedures before such dreams can see the light of day.
“There are some procedures that have to be done. You don’t just see a Nigerian playing in one of these clubs and say let him come, it doesn’t work that way.
“There’s paperwork, procedures, you have to speak to these players, and that is not my job. We have people at the NFF that have been doing that in the past and in the future, they will do that.
“Our job is to watch, and when we see a good player, the people that know the job properly and whose department it is, they will make that happen. If we see a player we know can help, we can bring on board, we will do that. We recommend, and the rest the NFF will take care of,” he told the media at Eko Hotels and Suites.
