Nigeria's Odemwingie plans to stay with Super Eagles

Mohamad Mosselhi , Monday 5 Nov 2012

Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie says he still wants to play for Super Eagles, despite claims to contrary by team coach

 Peter Odemwingie
Nigeria' striker Peter Odemwingie (Photo: Reuters)

West Brom's Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie refused Coach Steven Keshi's claims that he no longer wanted to play for the Nigerian national team.

"If the coach decides to call me, I'm still available to play for my country," Odemwingie was quoted as saying by Sky Sports on Monday.

"When I decide that I want to stop playing, I will come out and say so myself. I did not say I won't play for the national team," the player said.

"I am 31 now; it will be hard to play every game, but I had an honest discussion with the coach, and I'll be available when they call me," he added.

Odemwingie went on: "I spoke with Keshi and told him about my unhappiness with certain things in the national team. This included the fact that... I got into trouble for asking to be excused from a friendly game when I had an injury."

Odemwingie made his debut with the Super Eagles in their 3-0 win over Kenya in 2002, and has gone on to earn 50 caps with the African team.

The Super Eagles succeeded in reaching next year's African Cup of Nations championship, featuring in Group C with defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia.

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