Nigerian, British forwards granted Vietnamese citizenship

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Justice on Friday afternoon presented the two players with decisions by the Vietnamese State President granting them citizenship.

Olaha, born in 1997, has taken the Vietnamese name Olaha Manh Duc, while Lee, born in 2007, is now Williams Minh Hoang.

Speaking at the ceremony, Olaha said becoming a Vietnamese citizen had been a long-held dream since he first came to the country to play football.

“I am very happy and delighted to become a Vietnamese citizen,” he said. “I deeply appreciate everyone who has helped me make this dream come true. I promise to give my all to Cong An Ho Chi Minh City FC and Vietnamese football.”

The 1.86-meter-tall striker scored nine goals in 26 V-League appearances for Song Lam Nghe An last season before joining Cong An Ho Chi Minh City FC ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

Williams Minh Hoang, meanwhile, scored six goals in 17 V-League matches for Cong An Ho Chi Minh City FC in the 2025-26 season.

The 1.9-meter forward also netted twice in three National Cup appearances, helping the club win the competition.

“I am very happy and honored to be granted Vietnamese citizenship,” Williams said after the ceremony. “I cannot thank enough everyone who has accompanied and helped me reach this milestone.”

Their naturalization allows Cong An Ho Chi Minh City FC to register both players as domestic footballers, giving the club more attacking options for the new V-League season.

The move could also strengthen Vietnam’s national-team pool.

Williams has already earned his first call-up, with head coach Kim Sang Sik including him in a 23-man squad announced Thursday for the upcoming FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 in Indonesia.

He was one of two overseas Vietnamese players receiving their first call-ups, alongside France-born defender Nguyen Adou Leygley Minh.

Kim named five forwards in the squad: Williams, Nguyen Xuan Son, Nguyen Tai Loc, Dinh Bac, and Pham Gia Hung.

Xuan Son and Tai Loc are also naturalized Vietnamese players of Brazilian origin.