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Finidi George and the Super Eagles face an uphill battle to convince the duo to switch allegiance after the latest move from France.
In a major setback for the Nigerian national team, Super Eagles manager Finidi George has seen his hopes of securing the services of Michael Olise and Lesley Ugochukwu take a significant hit.
Pulse Sports Nigeria can report that the duo have been named in Thierry Henry's France U21 squad set to compete at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
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11:47 - 24.05.2024
It's not my job to go after Michael Olise, other Nigeria-eligible players - Super Eagles coach Finidi George
Super Eagles manager Finidi George has expressed his opinion on the invitation of Michael Olise and other foreign-born Nigerians.
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France name Super Eagles-eligible midfielders for Olympics
Both Olise and Ugochukwu are two players widely tipped to potentially switch their international allegiance to Nigeria, with the Super Eagles desperate to bolster their ranks ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
However, France's decision to include the talented pair in their Olympic preparations, according to a report by GFFN, has all but ended Nigeria's pursuit.
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As part of Les Bleus' Group A campaign, France will face off against the United States at Marseille's Stade Vélodrome on July 24th, before taking on Guinea in Nice on July 27th. They will then return to the Vélodrome to tackle New Zealand on July 30th.
The inclusion of Olise and Ugochukwu in the French Olympic squad is a major blow to Finidi George's hopes of convincing the players to don the famous green and white colours of Nigeria.
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The Super Eagles manager now faces an uphill battle to persuade the duo to turn their backs on their French heritage and commit their international futures to the three-time African champions.
With the Olympics being held in France, the lure of representing their home nation on the grandest stage of all will be a powerful draw for Olise and Ugochukwu.
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Finidi George and the Nigerian Football Federation will have to pull out all the stops if they are to have any chance of securing these highly-rated youngsters for the Super Eagles.
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