28th June, 2013
Many members of Nigeria’s Super Eagles have declared that they would not mind having controversial West Bromwich Albion attacker, Peter Odemwingie back in the team.
Odemwingie last featured for Nigeria in a 2012 Nations Cup qualifying game in Kigali, Rwanda in February 2011.
Head coach of the Nigeria national team, Stephen Keshi hinted in an interview that Odemwingie could get an unlikely recall to the national team.
“For (Odemwingie), he still has a place in the team. I’m not looking for an apology from him. Odemwingie is somebody that I like very well and he knows that. The thing is, it’s about the team that I’m worried about,” Keshi said.
Inter Milan midfielder, Obiora Nwankwo has now praised Keshi for “this bold step” and believes Odemwingie’s return will bode well for the African champions.
“Having Odemwingie back in the national team will be a big plus. With all due respect to all the strikers in the team who have been working hard, Odemwingie is a very experienced striker who knows his way to goal,” said the 21-year-old currently on loan at Romanian club, CFR Cluj.
Nwankwo added that experience plays a big role in teams winning matches when the stakes are high and insisted that Keshi’s recent declarations are nothing short of a masterstroke.
“Talent alone is not just enough to win games. You need experience and that’s where you need people like Vincent Enyeama; Joseph Yobo; John Mikel Obi; and Odemwingie.
“The coach has acted like a father and we must respect that,” he said.
Enugu Rangers midfielder, Sunday Mba also added his voice to the issue and explained that Odemwingie’s potential and long years as a professional footballer would “help the team.”
“As footballers, our job is to go out there and play but experience is important in this game and I think Odemwingie will help the team in this regard,” he said.
Former psychologist of the Super Eagles, Robinson Okosun has dispelled notions that Odemwingie could act as a disruptive influence in the team.
“Odemwingie is not a troublesome person. I know him better than a lot of Nigerians do. I have worked with him for years in the national team and I can tell you he’s one of the nicest and friendliest persons you will ever meet.
“People have been talking about what happened at West Brom last season but all human beings pass through phases in their lives.
“What (Odemwingie) needs now is support of Nigerians and I commend Keshi for this bold step and he has now shown he’s a man of his words when he declared in the past that the striker is still part of his plans,” he said.
Odemwingie made his Nigeria debut in 2002 and has made 55 appearances scoring nine times for the Super Eagles.
Meanwhile, Keshi and his bosses will meet after a bonus row that almost compromised the country at the Confederations Cup.
Keshi will meet up with the NFF immediately the Super Eagles resume training this weekend in Abuja.
The football house is allegedly disappointed with Keshi over his handling of the players’ strike over match bonuses.
“We will meet with Keshi immediately the Eagles resume camping in Abuja. We are not happy at the manner the coach allowed his players to create a national disgrace for this country, he is fully aware of the situation on ground and he should have made his players understand,” a top NFF official revealed to MTNFootball.com
The NFF have continuously blamed Keshi for the show of shame in Namibia when Eagles threatened to boycott the Confederations Cup owing to the bonus row.
The Super Eagles will on Sunday assemble in Abuja ahead of a date next week with Cote d’Ivoire in a Championship of African Nations (CHAN) qualifier in Kaduna.