Can Nigeria benefit from Michael Olise and Joshua Zirkzee Euro 2024 snub
News of the snub of two in-form Nigeria national team eligibles Michael Olise and Joshua Zirkzee by France and has been trending since both countries released their respective squads. In this article, we look at how this can be of benefit to the Super Eagles.
FRANCE SNUB FOR IN-FORM MICHAEL OLISE
Michael Olise has been one of Crystal Palace’s best players since his move from Reading in 2021 and has been in red-hot form for the Eagles this season since his return from injury.
Olise missed the first 11 games of the campaign and another 7 due to a hamstring injury through February and March – but still managed to grab 10 goals and five assists for Palace in 18 games played.
Born in England to a Nigerian father and French-Algerian mother, the 22-year-old is eligible to play for England, Nigeria, and Algeria at the international level even after representing France several times at the youth level.
NO JOSHUA ZIRKZEE FOR NETHERLANDS
Joshua Orobosa Zirkzee has been left out of the Netherlands’ provisional 30-man list for the upcoming 2024 Euros in Germany.
The 22-year-old Bologna top goal scorer has been one of the team’s key players this season and has been instrumental in Bologna’s debut qualification for the Champions League.
Zirkzee registered 11 goals and five assists for Bologna across 34 matches in Serie A this campaign and has attracted Premier League and Italian giants, Arsenal, Manchester United, and AC Milan who are said to be interested in signing the Dutch striker in the summer.
Among notable names who made the provisional squad are Liverpool duo Virgil Van Dijk and Cody Gakpo. Also, Daley Blind, Frenkie De Jong, Denzel Dumfries, and Nathan Ake all made the 30-man list.
CAN NIGERIA BENEFIT FROM THIS DEVELOPMENT
Yes, with both players still eligible to represent the Nigeria National team, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) can go ahead to explore avenues to get both players to represent the Super Eagles.
Michael Olise’s exclusion from the France national team is a huge boost to Nigeria as it has handed another lifeline in the pursuit of the England-born winger.
In 2021, Olise was named on the Super Eagles standby list for the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Lesotho.
For Joshua Zirkzee, Nigeria remains an option if he does not get a chance with Netherlands. The Bologna man even made this confession in a recent interview.
In terms of quality, both players will greatly improve the current Super Eagles squad but the challenge will be, how best to convince them to switch nationality to Africa’s giant – Nigeria.
