Friday,October 3, 2014
Super Eagles’ striker Emenike, left, against Marcos Rojo of Argentina at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Few days before the crucial 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against Sudan,Super Eagles striker, Emmanuel Emenike has threatened to quit the national team.
According to a report published by AfricanFootball.com, the Fenerbahce star allegedly said he is ready to stay out of the Super Eagles if coach Stephen Keshi believes he is the problem of the team.
Below are excerpts of the interview:
“I have always treated Keshi like a father, and he has always lived in my heart to be a good father. Before now, we have been enjoying a smooth relationship and I see no reason why he should be holding grudges against me. Continue after the cut...
“Keshi is a good coach, a coach with high pedigree. I give him all the respect I can give my father whenever I come for a national assignment.
Everything changed after the Nations Cup, everything about him towards me changed and I decided to stay on my own.
“But I am very surprised by what he said that he and some players in the Eagles are not happy with me. Over what?
“I don’t want Nigerians to see me as being proud or arrogant, but if the coach thought inviting me to his team will not bring result or peace to the team, he can let me be.
“I have maintained a solid relationship to avoid quarreling with him, but if my invitation to play for Nigeria does not stand for peace, I will like to stay focused with my club.
“I have always loved to give my best for Nigeria and I always make it known that I can always fight to score goals for my country and I will not like coach Keshi to let Nigerians see me as an indisciplined player who is not ready to give them my best again.
“My Super Eagles career is as important as my club career. Coming to play for Nigeria was the biggest decision I have ever made in my life. And I appreciate the way the fans have been striving hard to cheer me up whenever I push for goal.
“I have never seen the Super Eagles camp as my father’s house, it’s a temporary place for everybody, and why should we be making problems for ourselves? he asked.
“If Keshi thought inviting me is a problem to his selection or the team, I will prefer to stay back and maintain my big respect for him.”
It was reported recently that coach Keshi was unhappy with the 2013 Nations Cup top scorer, who was benched in last month’s qualifier against Congo.
Nigeria is currently placed third in their group and would need the maximum six points in a double header against Sudan on 10 and 15 October.
Congo and South Africa are currently placed first and second respectively in the group with only the first two teams qualifying for next year’s AFCON in Morocco.
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