Manchester United looked like they were cruising to their fifth win of the year, but Olise had other ideas

Nigeria-eligible midfielder Michael Olise scored a stunning free-kick for Crystal Palace to help them steal a 1-1 draw against Manchester United.

The Red Devils have failed to drop points in the Premier League since the 6th of November 2022, and they were looking to keep it that way when they traveled to Selhurst Park to take on Crystal Palace.

Manchester United were the better team from the start, but it took them all of 44 minutes before they got their breakthrough. Christian Eriksen played a precise pass to Bruno Fernandes who was in the box, and the Portuguese star finished with aplomb to put the former champions ahead before the break.

The Red Devils were laid back in the second half, and they gave Crystal Palace a chance to grow into the game. And they were punished adequately for their complacency.

The Eagles won a free-kick on the edge of the box late into the second half, and Olise converted with aplomb. The 21-year-old midfielder struck a wicked shot that hit the inside of the crossbar and went into the net, leaving goalkeeper De Gea beaten.

Asides from his goal, Olise registered 81 touches and four key passes.

 

What is Olise’s situation with Nigeria?

Olise has a Nigerian father and his mother has French and Algerian ancestry. As such, he is eligible for Algeria, Nigeria, France, and England, but he represents the French youth teams.

When Gernot Rohr was coach of the Super Eagles, the NFF tried to get him to pledge allegiance to Nigeria, but he refused, opting to play for the French youth setup instead.

Still, he could play for Nigeria because he is yet to get a senior cap.

Olise would be a great addition to the Super Eagles lineup with his creativity and trickery on the ball. Nigeria is blessed with great finishers like Victor Osimhen, Paul Onuachu, and Kelechi Iheanacho. With an Olise playing behind them, they would surely get opportunities.

Also, he is great at set plays. The Super Eagles do not have any top-notch set-piece taker, but Olise could be that player for  Nigeria. He could be the answer to the creativity problem that has persisted over the years.