Sports
Odemwingie Hits Out After Eagles Snub
Osaze Odemwingie took to twitter this week to vent his frustration at being left out of Nigeria’s Nations Cup squad, and all but called time on his international career.
The West Brom forward was one of three high profile players excluded from Nigeria’s 32-man provisional squad, leaving Odemwingie incensed. “On my not inclusion to the Eagles list I am not surprised. Not surprised Keshi and NFF couldn’t tell me themselves. No personality!
“Keshi has no footballing reasons not to invite me but is not saying the truth. He is still in my plans he said haha coach u no dey my plans,” Osaze ripped.
The forward then went on to rehash his history of past grievances with the national team, starting with Amodu Shuaibu in 2008 “After AFCON in Ghana, Eagles fans were satisfied with our performance and Siasia after the tournament said I will take you to the Olympics.
“They sacked Berti Vogts after it though and just a month after that coach Amodu took over! In his first game in charge, I didn’t even warm up.
“I had to holla at him and Amokachi his assistant and next games I played and man of the match in half games of the team that year.
“The only reason me and Siasia fell out was over kits that were not enough cos they were on sale as the Olympics were on going. Shame!
“Nigerian fans voted me Nigerian player of the year during World Cup qualifiers & I was a spectator in the World Cup and I should be quiet?”
Coaches were not alone in Odemwingie’s line of fire. The NFF also got a healthy dose, with the player accusing the federation of not giving senior players respect with proper send-offs.
“We talk through press hahaha how come I am the only stubborn one but no ex Eagles player was sent off from the team with respect?”
And the Super Eagles captains were not left out, as Odemwingie claims the team lacked leadership for years. “This might sound disrespectful but Eagles had no good captain for many years. Everyone looking only after himself,” he tweeted.
In justifying his Sunday morning tirade, Odemwingie explained that he cared about the team. “The story is getting long and I don tire. I cared a lot about the team and wasn’t passive.
“The only reason I write this is for the fans to know my reasons and position on a few things and don’t think I don’t care or too proud.”
He rounded off by tweeting what appeared to be his farewell to the national team. “That’s it on this. Story ended. No more talks about national team again. I’ve said all I wanted. If will be tempted will go off twitter.”
It is not the first time the outspoken player will take to the micro blogging site to have a go at his national coach.
In 2011, he fired a broadside at then coach Samson Siasia, to begin a spat which took months to resolve.
Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.
The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.
“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.
We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”
The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.
“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.
“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”
Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.
Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.
It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.
Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.
The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.
The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.
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