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Former Super Eagles forward Osaze Odemwingie explains why the 2014 World Cup clash against France was his last match for Nigeria.
Super Eagles legend Osaze Odemwingie has explained the reason behind his perceived abrupt exit from the Nigerian national team.
The former West Brom forward recorded 66 appearances for the senior national team, scoring 11 goals. He last represented his country in the 2-0 defeat to France in the Round of 16 of the 2014 World Cup; he has now explained why his journey with the Super Eagles did not go beyond that point despite playing at club level for five more years after his last international game.
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What Osaze said
The Russian-Nigerian was one of the most exciting forwards to ever don several shades of green for the Super Eagles.
Although he was not involved in the 2013 AFCON triumph, which was the greatest achievement the Super Eagles achieved during his period as a player for the team, after he was omitted from the squad due to a rumoured falling out with late Stephen Keshi, the then coach, Osaze was part of the contingent for the 2014 World Cup but never played for Nigeria after the tournament in Brazil.
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During a live video, the former Stoke City ace was asked why he left the national team early. Osaze answered, saying he was 33 during his last match for Nigeria, suggesting it was not early, but admitted he could have increased his caps before going on to explain why his watch ended at the time it did.
“Why did I stop playing for Nigeria early? It was not early. I was probably…in the World Cup 2014; I was 33,” he said, per Soccernet.
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“Yeah, I could still play a few years but I got injured right after the World Cup. I had no preseason on that week, I played three games in a role.
“My legs were tired. So my muscles didn’t hold the knee in a position that usually it will hold. It would hold the knee but the knee just went. Yeah, the quads were tired.”
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