Contrary to expectations by many football followers, Super Eagles’ head coach, Stephen Keshi, has for the umpteenth time declared that he would not succumb to popular demands to recall Osaze Odemwingie to the country’s senior national team.
Making the declaration in a telephone interview yesterday, the Big Boss, who is still vacationing in the United States of America, explained that the current form of any player was not enough to earn him a national call-up as he considers other attributes expected of a player.
The fair-skinned attacker appears to be in his best shape in recent times as evidenced by the two brilliant goals he netted for Stoke City last weekend. His switch from Cardiff City to Stoke later this season has also seen him enjoying more playing times.
But Keshi, who only recently reconsidered Eagles’ captain, Joseph Yobo, to be part of his squad to be part of the last friendly game with Mexico, insisted that Osaze would have to wait much longer before he could get a place in his team.
According to him, “It will take more than scoring goals for Osaze to return to Super Eagles. There are so many things you put into consideration before asking a player to come and play with the team. Osaze is a good player but what many don’t understand is that it takes more than scoring goals to invite a striker.
“Osaze is paid to score goals. So, he is doing his job because he is paid to do that and there is nothing special about him.
“We need players with character and good team spirit. I don’t have any problem with any player and I can’t request money from any player to be in my team. What of the times the coach or coaches are not with the players, what will be the person’s contribution in terms of instilling good consciousness among his colleagues.
“Nobody is talking about Joel Obi who is back to action, even Babatunde Michael and others who are doing well for their various clubs.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are in Group F alongside Argentina, Bosnia and Iran in this year’s World Cup. They are expected to resume camping May 25 ahead of the Mundial which holds in Brazil from June 12.
