Two footballers received Vietnamese citizenship
Nigerian striker Michael Olaha and English forward Williams Lee have officially obtained Vietnamese citizenship. The naturalization decisions were presented to the footballers on September 18 at the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Justice. After receiving citizenship, both players were given Vietnamese names: Olaha is now officially called Olaha Manh Duc, and Lee — Williams Minh Hoang.
Both footballers play for Công An Ho Chi Minh City. Obtaining citizenship allows the club to register them as local players in the domestic championship, which frees up additional foreign-player spots in the team’s squad.
Olaha was born in 1997. Last season he played for Sông Lam Nghe An and scored nine goals in 26 V.League matches. Before the start of the 2026/27 season, the striker moved to Công An Ho Chi Minh City.
Williams Lee was born in 2007 and spent his first season in the Vietnamese league with Công An Ho Chi Minh City. He has six goals in 17 V.League matches. He also scored two more goals in three National Cup games, helping the team win the trophy.
Naturalization also opens up the possibility for the footballers to represent Vietnam at the international level, provided they meet the relevant requirements. Williams Minh Hoang was the first to receive such an opportunity: on September 18, Vietnam national team head coach Kim Sang Sik included him in the 23-player squad for the upcoming FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026.
For 19-year-old Williams, this is his first call-up to the national team. Joining him in the squad is French defender Nguyen Adu Leigli Minh, who also recently obtained Vietnamese citizenship. Vietnam will compete in the tournament’s first division in Group B alongside Thailand, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
The FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 will take place from September 24 to October 5. Vietnam will begin the tournament with a match against the Philippines on September 26, then play Thailand on September 29 and Pakistan on October 2.
For Olaha, a call-up to the national team has not yet been announced. However, obtaining citizenship makes him eligible for further consideration as a national team player.
