Sunday Oliseh, former Nigeria captain and ex-Super Eagles head coach, has spoken candidly about his disappointment regarding Michael Olise‘s international allegiance, stating that watching the Bayern Munich winger represent France provokes a strong emotional reaction.
Speaking on his podcast, Global Football Insights with Oliseh, the former midfielder did not hold back. “When I see Olise play, he gets me so angry,” Oliseh said. “I’m just saying this guy should not be wearing the French national team jersey; he should be wearing the green-white-green of Nigeria.”
Olise, born in England, held eligibility for four nations: Nigeria through his father, Algeria through his mother, England by birth, and France — the country he ultimately chose to represent at senior international level. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) made concerted efforts to persuade him to commit to the Super Eagles, but those attempts proved unsuccessful.
The winger has emerged as one of the standout performers in world football during the 2025/26 season. He is reportedly on the verge of surpassing Lionel Messi’s single-season assist record, a benchmark that underscores the level Olise has reached since joining Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace in the summer of 2024.
Oliseh also used the platform to dispel a recurring misconception about his relationship with Olise, stemming from their near-identical surnames. “This is why our people are funny. Some even sent messages asking why I sabotaged us — ‘Your son went to play for France,'” he said. “He’s not my son, and his own Olise does not even have an ‘h’ at the end of it.”
Despite his frustration over the nationality question, Oliseh acknowledged that his assessment of Olise’s ability has evolved considerably. “When he was doing great at Crystal Palace, I was saying to myself, ‘This guy is good, but maybe he’s missing something,'” he admitted. “But when I see him now at Bayern, I say to myself, ‘This guy one day might also contest for the Ballon d’Or because he is so good.'”
Oliseh further highlighted the physical and psychological challenges defenders now face when up against the 23-year-old. “Now you are seeing defenders feeling helpless against him; they even foul him and insult him to provoke him, and he’s a quiet person,” he observed.
Olise’s rise at club level has drawn widespread recognition beyond Oliseh’s comments. Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany has drawn comparisons between Olise and Belgium legend Kevin De Bruyne, citing the winger’s creative output and technical quality as hallmarks of an elite playmaker.
The debate around Olise’s international choice is not new. Nigeria has faced a recurring challenge in convincing dual-eligible players — many of whom grew up in Europe — to commit to the Super Eagles over more established footballing nations. While players such as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman have remained central to Nigeria’s attack, the NFF’s failure to secure Olise remains a notable miss given his current trajectory.
Oliseh himself had a distinguished international career with Nigeria, earning over 60 caps and representing the country at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. He later managed the Super Eagles between 2015 and 2016. His comments reflect a sentiment shared by many Nigerian football observers, even as Olise continues to cement his place in Didier Deschamps’ France setup ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
