Osaze Odemwingie’s passion to wear the Super Eagles jersey was evident to Nigerian football fans who wondered why the Nigerian did not play for a few more years. I did.
Former West Bromwich Albion star Osaze Odemwingie recently revealed the reason for his departure from the Super Eagles, citing injuries that affected his ability to continue representing Nigeria, Soccernet.ng reported.
After deciding to play for Nigeria, Odemwingie made a huge contribution to the team and provided unforgettable moments leading up to their appearance in the 2014 World Cup.
In a live video monitored by Soccernet.ng, Odemwingie announced his retirement from Nigerian football at the age of 33 after the 2014 World Cup, despite potentially playing for a few more years. He went on to say that he will remain disabled due to his knee injury.
He emphasized that the injury was caused by playing three games in a row without proper pre-season preparation, which led to fatigue, which led to muscle strains and subsequent knee problems.
“Why did I stop playing for Nigeria so early? It wasn’t too early. Maybe… At the time of the 2014 World Cup, I was 33 years old. Yes. I could have played a few more years, but I got injured right after the World Cup. There was no preseason this week, and I played three games in one role. My legs were tired. So my muscles weren’t holding my knee in its normal position. I lift my knee, but it disappears. Yes, my quads were tired,” he said.
Watch the video here
Previously, rumors of a rift between Odemwingie and Nigeria national team coach Stephen Keshi were reported during the 2013 African Cup of Nations, but Odemwingie was appointed to represent Nigeria for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in May 2014. He was included in the 30-member preliminary squad and ultimately earned the right to participate. He remains in his final 23-man squad for the June tournament.
