France U-21 coach and Arsenal legend Thiery Henry has named players of Nigerian descent Michael Olise and Lesley Ugochukwu in France’s 25-man squad for the men’s football event of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, PRIMANEWS Sports Extra reports.
Henry, on Monday, announced the squad for the summer Games set to take place on their home soil.
Olise was a notable absentee in France’s Euro 2024 squad.
While he has not yielded to advances to play for Nigeria, Ugochukwu’s case remains in the balance, although the 20-year-old has featured for France in other youth competitions.
Born in France, Ugochukwu holds dual nationality, and he is the nephew of Nigerian centre-back and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Onyekachi Apam.
The midfielder joined Chelsea from Stade Rennes in August 2023 for a fee worth €27m, making 12 Premier League appearances in the just-concluded 2023–24 season.
France are lodged in Group A with the United States, Guinea and New Zealand.
Other players in Henry’s squad include former Arsenal forward Alexandre Lacazette and Crystal Palace man Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Abiodun Adewale
Abiodun, who reports Sports for PRIMANEWS, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PRIMANEWS.
Contact: [email protected]
