The former coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Gernot Rohr has revealed how close he came to convincing Bayern Munich rave of the moment Micheal Olise, who is now a senior international for France, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Olise joined Bayern in the summer from English Premier League side Crystal Palace, he was wasted no time in making himself a starter at the club with five goals and three assists in six games so far.
Eligible for Nigeria at senior level until two week ago , when he was capped by France at senior level after impressing for the U23s at the recently concluded Olympic games in Paris. It all could have been different if Rohr had gotten his way in 2020 when he called up the then 19 year as part of his squad for the AFCON qualifiers games against Benin Republic and Lesotho respectively.
Rohr placed him on standby in his 24 man list as the then Reading man was yet to be issued a Nigerian passport. The games were later postponed due to the corona virus pandemic and between then he got a move to Crystal Palace, and had a change of mind.
” Olise was a huge miss for us (Nigeria) back then. When I called him in 2020 and placed him on standby I was trying to see if he will get his Nigerian passport before the games. Unfortunately the games were postponed and he got a big move, which changed everything”, the coach who is now in charge of Benin Republic told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
Ade Emmanuel
