A stunning hat trick for France by Nigerian-born dazzler, Michael Olise has set tongues wagging about his potential for wonders at this year’s FIFA World Cup, with one of his adopted country’s football legends leading the encomiums.
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Sports247 reports that the spray of accolades continues escalating, and France ex-international, Gaël Clichy could not resist putting his thoughts into writing, as the former Arsenal and Manchester City of England left-back waxed lyrical about Olise.
The former player’s words became so prophetic, after the watching world saw the beauty of Olise’s first senior international hat-trick, which helped France coach, Didier Deschamps win his final home game 3-1 against Northern Ireland.
There was a party atmosphere in Lille, as the home fans paid tribute to the 2018 World Cup-winning manager ahead of his exit after this summer’s Mundial, and Olise helped put gloss on his side’s last game before they fly to North America.
With Thursday’s shock 2-1 defeat by Ivory Coast still fresh in mind, Les Bleus were bound to play under pressure, but things started changing when Olise began scoring, and the former Crystal Palace of England ace saved the best for last.
Kylian Mbappé fired another effort off target, as France began to look edgy, but Olise calmed all nerves with a sumptuous curling effort into the far corner from the edge of the box to enact his first hat-trick and seventh senior international goal.
With Olise rated man of the match afterwards, all football zealots would surely nod in agreement, but Clichy is looking beyond Monday’s heroics, as he has tipped the Nigerian-born lad to even outshine Mbappé at this year’s global soccer showpiece.
Clichy stated in his column for BBC Sport, “We saw it happen with Kylian Mbappé for France at the 2018 World Cup – we knew before we lifted the trophy in Russia that he was an incredible talent, but that was the time he really arrived.
“This summer, I hope another France player, Michael Olise, can do the same in the US, Canada and Mexico. Everyone knows Michael quite well already, because he plays for Bayern Munich and we see him a lot in the Champions League.
“This is Michael’s first big tournament with the first team. I will be watching him at this World Cup as a pundit for BBC Sport and he is the player I am most looking forward to seeing play game after game at this level.”
Sports247 reports further that France’s new rave of the moment, whose full name is Michael Akpovie Olise, was born on December 12th, 2001 in Greater London to a British-Nigerian father and Franco-Algerian mother.
Olise, though, opted to play for France instead of choosing Algeria, England or Nigeria internationally, which he explained thus: “I have always had a connection with the France national team, that is why I play for France.
“It’s been my dream since I was a kid. I actually come from four countries. I consider myself very lucky to possess these four parts, which all enrich me. I feel each individual part in me, I’ve developed attachments in all my countries.”
