By Toby Prince
Nigeria football community woke up on Tuesday morning to the news that Al Ain of UAE striker, Emmanuel Emenike, has quit international football.
The decision, according to the former Spartak Moscow goal machine, was in the interest “national peace” amid speculation that he might be axed by coach Sunday Oliseh for subsequent games.
“Sometimes it’s better to remove yourself from an environment that doesn’t suit you mentally and physically, this is what I have done,” Emenike told BBC Sports.
Just like many Nigerians, Oliseh has taken the news with shock and is yet to come to terms that the 28-year-old has quit his team.
“It was a big shocker for us and a big shocker for me personally,” the gaffer told Brilla Fm.
“And personally, I still don’t accept that he (Emenike) has retired because, officially, I have not heard anything from him, and I don’t think the federation have heard anything from him, only what we’ve seen is what is pasted on social media,” Oliseh added.
The tactician however debunked claims in the media that he and his coaching crew had planned to drop the striker for his below-par performances for the Super Eagles.
“He has been part of our building process, and in fact, he has had more playing time than any other striker that we’ve had. So I am very surprised that he has retired,” Oliseh explained
“I have called him twice. Immediately I heard it, the first thing was that I needed to get a confirmation which I called him yesterday (Tuesday) and I am still expecting a return call. So when I hear from him, that is when I will accept that he really has retired.”
Joining Oliseh is NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, who declared that he was “utterly flabbergasted’ by the resignation of the powerful forward.
“We (NFF) have not been contacted officially but I’m shocked because Emenike has been a major factor of success for the team. Players have the right to quit but I think that they should do it in a civil manner,” the administrator said.
Veteran coach Joe Erico added his voice to the whole Emenike saga, stressing that it did not come to him as a surprise.
“It’s not strange,” he reacted. “He has done well within a short spell with the national team.”
Former international, Fatai Amoo, believes Emenike’s retirement from international football is ill-timed and a “bit hasty”.
Enyimba coach, Kadiri Ikhana, suggested that the decision of the Al Ain striker to quit the Super Eagles could lead to disorder in the national team.
“Two players retiring from the national team can bring disorder into the team because both were leading stars, respected by their teammates. It is not too good for us, especially, the sudden nature of Emenike’s decision,” he said.
Former Super Eagles forward, Jonathan Akpoborie, believes Emenike will not be missed.
The former Wolfsburg striker told Punch: “There are many players that can wear the number nine jersey in place of Emenike. When the home-based Eagles played against Burkina Faso, we saw Gbolahan Salami, and we saw Chisom Chikatara. Salami and Chikatara have shown they are two or three times better than Emenike.
“We thank Emenike for serving Nigeria and we will respect him for winning the Africa Cup of Nations. Ighalo is also scoring goals for his club right now. He can perform better than Emenike. So we will not really miss him in the national team.”
