The two African football heavyweights have taken their rivalry off the pitch and unto the heart of one of the game's most gifted young talents
Reading midfielder Michael Akpovie Olise has a tough decision to make on which country to represent at the international level after Algeria emerged as the latest admirers of the English-born ace of Nigerian descent.
Interests in Olise skyrocketed this year after the 20-year-old delivered one stunning performance after another for Reading with relative ease in the EFL Championship.
The attacking midfielder ended the 2020/21 campaign with seven goals and 12 assists in 46 games as the Royals missed the promotion playoffs by the whiskers.
Olise’s brilliance has been rewarded as he was named the Championship Young Player of the Season and in the Team of the Season. The youngster also went home with Reading’s EA Sports Young Player of the Season award.
While major Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea, are rumoured to be interested in signing Olise, at least three countries are also grappling to secure his allegiance at the international level.
Born in England to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother, Olise is still eligible to play for any of the other three nations, despite playing in the Toulon tournament with the French youth team in 2019.
The youngster is a long-time target of the Nigeria Football Federation, and he was on the expanded list of players invited for the Super Eagles' Afcon qualifiers in March, but he didn’t make the final roster.
Algeria are equally keen on adding the youngster to their national team. And as per Fennec Football, the Algeria FA recently sent representatives to visit Olise in England to convince him to play for the reigning African champions.
The Reading star is yet to make a final decision, but a possible appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is likely to be crucial in any decision the young midfielder makes.
Pls olise don’t listen to offer from Algeria,come to Nigeria and play oo
nigeria go kill your talent,
Did nigeria killed yours?
you’re big fool, idiot.
Olise is a Nigerian, so why would Algeria want him play for them?
“Born in England to a Nigerian father and a FRENCH-ALGERIAN MOTHER…”
because his mum is Algerian … simple !! so he is was Nigerian as he is Algerian.. decision is his…
Come wear naija National colors make we see your skills jare… Forget naija Government! We the fans need good players we need good football we miss the good old days…. Make una come rescue our super eagles
He should follow his heart and instinct…Algeria or Nigeria, both are african geants…but as an algerian fan and a husband, I know if my wife decides something, I will have to be very brave to oppose it…also Algeria is much closer to Europe and is on the ascendancy at the moment…but honestly, I am an admirer of african football, still have in memory the Super Eagles team of world cup 1994 (Amokashi, JJ Okosha, Rashidi Yekini etc…), so all the best Michael with whatever you decide and Africa needs you (Algeria )