West Bromwich Albion striker Osaze Odemwingie faces being banned from playing for Nigeria for life after his recent outburst during which he criticized the authorities for not inviting him for the impending African Cup of Nations.
Unhappy at being left out of the provisional 32-man squad that will begin camping in Faro this week, Osaze lashed out at head coach Stephen Keshi and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF). Osaze had said that Keshi has no footballing reasons not to invite him to camp and criticized the way he found out about being dropped via the media rather than from the coach himself.
One top NFF official responded by saying that Osaze would not be allowed to go unpunished for insulting the NFF, Keshi and Super Eagles captain Joseph Yobo. He added that Osaze took matters too far with his outburst on Twitter and as such must pay for his actions.
According to NFF sources, Osaze's case will now be referred to the federation's disciplinary committee to investigate and make recommendations to the executive committee for the next line of action. He added: “Who does Osaze think he is that makes him think that he can abuse everybody and go unpunished?
“Well, he may think he does not need us because he also holds a European Union passport but we shall make a statement with the action we will take against him. We are 100 per cent in support of Keshi because we know he picked his team without any ill-feelings.”
Osaze meanwhile has conceded that being dropped from the Nations Cup squad effectively ends his international career. He added that it is just as well he was not invited to the Faro camp, as it is not ideal to play for a coach who does not want him.
“It is clear now that my days with the Super Eagles are over as I expected to be left out of the ANC squad because we have had a few issues before. I played a very good 10 years from 2002 to 2012 but I don't want to be with a coach who doesn’t want me.
“I still love my country and care about the football but I already wasn't feeling the way I would have liked to feel. Last month I spoke with Keshi because I didn’t play in a few games with the national team and he said my body language didn't show that I wanted to play for the team but body language for the Nigerian coach is that you have to be calling him all the time and greeting him but for me football is an official thing,” Osaze added.
Pointing out that he is no sycophant, Osaze said: “You invite a player and he comes. I don't have to be like his son, calling every day and asking how are you, sir? I'm not that type of person. They take it as arrogance but my mentality is different.”
Osaze will now channel all his energies towards helping Albion sustain their top-six push in the Barclays Premier League. He is also expecting his first child any minute from now and not being in camp, he will be able to be present when his wife gives birth.
Naija Admministrators with Junta mentality. I am yet to hear any strong indictement of Osaze in all of this. If u hold public office then get set to answer questions when they arise. I expect somebody to tell us what the issues are and not all this hearsay about Osaze does not come around to massage some persons ego. Question should be on current form is he good enough for the national team?
ReplyDeleteNaija Admministrators with Junta mentality. I am yet to hear any strong indictement of Osaze in all of this. If u hold public office then get set to answer questions when they arise. I expect somebody to tell us what the issues are and not all this hearsay about Osaze does not come around to massage some persons ego. Question should be on current form is he good enough for the national team?
ReplyDeleteOsaze have the right to air his frustrations and views afterall, he's the one that has been hurt. Truth be told, he deserves to be treated better. Our country will not make progress until we start criticism as corrections. The problem with Nigeria officials is that anyone criticising them is viewed as insulting them. You cannot improve yourself with such mindset. It is high time our coaches learned that winning laurels for the country is of higher priority than their ego. Lots of fact can be seen in that so called outburst of Osaze. We just need to look critically at the issues he raised.
ReplyDeletecorrupt and stupid NFF come and ban me.
ReplyDeleteNFF should learn how to correct their mistakes thru criticism.
ReplyDeleteosaze is a stupid fellow to hv spoken like that. During the time of JayJay, Westerhof always put him onj d bench but later he rose to become the captain of eagles. Osaze is too ambitious to become the captain of Eagles. Is it a must he must captain Eagles because he is the ooldest in the team?
ReplyDeleteI am really disappointed in keshi the was he is treating this issue personally,sure the truth remain that he just want to punish osaze to please samson siasia,he has no genue and footbal reason for droping
ReplyDeleteKeshi should know that he will be answerable to what happen should anything go wrong in south Africa,I am really disappointed in his decision in giving osaze cold war just to please samson siasia,if he don't take time wit his decision his case will be worst than siasia,he has not given millions of Nigerians any reasonable football reason to drom osaze,NFF are so corrupt that only God will disgrace the one day,should anything go wrong they should be ready to explain to Nigerians,Only God will change this country
ReplyDeleteWe don't need to kill Our self over NFF actions. NFF are corrupt.. haba, no be nigeria again.
ReplyDeleteStephen Keshi must have learnt from Siasia's fall.
ReplyDelete