Nigeria striker Emenike snubs phone calls from Super Eagles coach Oliseh

Published on: 21 October 2015
Nigeria striker Emenike snubs phone calls from Super Eagles coach Oliseh
Nigeria striker Emenike has not picked Oliseh's calls

Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike did not answer Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh's phone calls since he announced his decision to retire from the national team and has not returned the calls.

The 28-year-old, who plays for Al Ain of Dubai, quit the Super Eagles on Tuesday citing his uneasiness over the current environment in the Nigeria national team.

Oliseh was reportedly considering leaving out Emenike for next month's World Cup qualifier against Swaziland because he has not scored at international level for two years which looks to have prompted the decision.

Emenike has not scored for the Super Eagles since October 2013 but Oliseh has denied planning to axe him.

Oliseh says he tried reaching Emenike, but there was no response from his phone and has not returned the calls.

"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," Oliseh said.

"So when I hear from him, that is when I will accept that he really has retired."

Emenike is the second player to announce his retirement from Nigeria's senior squad this month, following Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama - Nigeria's most-capped player - who quit after a much publicised row with coach Sunday Oliseh.

Oliseh was reportedly considering leaving out Emenike for next month's World Cup qualifier against Swaziland because he has not scored at international level for two years.

The former Spartak Moscow player, at Al Ain on loan from Turkish side Fenerbahce, has, however, featured in the first four matches since Oliseh took over from Steven Keshi.

Emenike made his international debut in a friendly against Sierra Leone in Lagos in February 2011 and was top scorer at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, helping Nigeria lift the trophy.

He made 37 appearance for the Super Eagles and score nine goals.

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