‘I shouldn’t be begging’- Odemwingie opens up on missing out of AFCON 2013 glory
BRASILIA, BRAZIL - JUNE 30: Peter Odemwingie of Nigeria controls the ball against Blaise Matuidi of France during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Round of 16 match between France and Nigeria at Estadio Nacional on June 30, 2014 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
By Monsurah Olatunji
Osaze Odemwingie has admitted he felt he ‘should not be begging’ while expressing regret over missing out of Nigeria’s winning 2013 African Cup of Nations squad in South Africa.
The 38-year-old, who last played for an Indonesian side Madura FC in 2017, announced the decision to hang up his boots a year ago and boasted of successful stints in France and Russia, with Lille and Lokomotiv Moscow respectively, before the dynamic Uzbekistan-born forward caught the eye of Premier League suitors.
Odemwingie, who began his career with Nigerian outfit Bendel Insurance before moving to Belgium in 2004 to team up with La Louviere, joined West Bromwich Albion in 2010, where he scored 30 goals in 87 top-flight outings and won three Player of the Month accolade (September 2010, April 2011 and February 2012).
He scored 10 goals in 63 caps with Nigeria, playing at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and scored the winner against Bosnia and Herzegovina in Brazil that ultimately saw the West Africans to the Last 16.
Despite representing the Super Eagles at four African Cup of Nations editions (2004, 2006, 2008 and as captain in 2010), and in 2008 was named as an overage player as the Dream Team V secured the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics, he is still unhappy about missing the chance to celebrate an Afcon title.
“Coaches that I had worked with at the national team always have issues with me,” Odemwingie disclosed in a recent Instagram Live with the Nigeria Football Federation.
“When I say issues, I mean I normally challenge their decisions most times and an average Nigerian hates it when you question their decisions.
“I had an issue with the late Stephen Keshi prior to that period. I can’t say maybe that was why I was not invited or maybe there are better options at my position.
“One of the people from the media called me before the final list and asked me to call Keshi to apologize so that I can make the list for the AFCON. I ignored it because I don’t like forcing things.
“This man called my sister to persuade me to put that call through because in his term he believed the Super Eagles are going to win the AFCON and he wanted me to be part of the history.
“I went to bed after having this conversation and I had a dream where I saw myself and Taye Taiwo lifted the Nations Cup. When I woke up I still didn’t put the call through because I thought I should not be begging for a place if I am good enough for the call-up.
“Fast forward to the AFCON tournament and the team did won, my dream came true but with the omission of Taiwo and I. The two people I saw in my dream missed the tournament.
“I was happy the team won the tournament but in my head, I was like ‘Osaze, what if you had put that call through’. Even if it meant just seating on the bench (smile). I could have just called Keshi and said ‘boss, I promise never to challenge your authority again’ but I didn’t and the team won.”
