Nigeria-eligibles Olise, Ugochukwu get France Olympics call-up

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Ex-international and coach of the French U-23 side, Thierry Henry  has announced France's preliminary squad for the upcoming Olympic Games 2024 on Monday, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

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The former Arsenal man worked with the Belgium national team as an assistant manager during the 2018 World Cup and the EURO 2021 tournament before he was appointed as the French U-23 coach last year.

Tasked with the responsibility of seeking out a gold medal on home soil at the 2024 Olympics, the former Barcelona winger selected two players of Nigerian descent.

Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, and Chelsea’s Lesley Ugochukwu were included in Henry’s 23-man squad. Other notable inclusions include Alexandre Lacazette, Jean Philippe-Mateta, Mathys Tel, and PSG’s Warren Zaïre-Emery.

Olise who is born in England has a Nigerian father and a Algeria-French mother is eligible to play for England, Algeria, France and Nigeria despite featuring for France in the U-18 and U-21.

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For Lesley Ugochukwu, he is born to Nigerian parents in Rennes, France and has a dual citizenship of Nigeria and France.

 

Uche Dozie