West Brom striker Odemwingie makes Nigeria U-turn and will return to fight for a place

Nov 5, 2012 9:15:00 PM

Rumours had suggested that the striker had grown tired of falling out with the Super Eagles' coaches, but the national team coach insists that reports have been exaggerated

Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has corrected media reports about the retirement of West Brom’s Peter Odemwingie from the national team.

In a release on Monday by Ben Alaiya, the media officer of the national team, Keshi said his interview about the frustrations experienced by Odemwingie under previous national team coaches had been misinterpreted.

Keshi's statement read: “What [Odemwingie] told me was that after fighting so hard to qualify Nigeria for the South Africa 2010 World Cup, he was dumped on the bench when the tournament proper started.

"He fears a repeat following the manner he was substituted in the [2013 Africa Cup of Nations] qualifier against Rwanda in Kigali [in February], which was under me.

“Well, I told him that if I had my way all the players who featured in that match should have been substituted but I had only three substitutions to make because we played poorly in the encounter.

“He told me he understands my position and that he is now ready to return to the national team fold. We actually spoke for over one hour on Sunday [November 4], so there is actually nothing amiss about [him].

"He has said he will join others to come and fight for a shirt and that is the new rule in the national team.”

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