chidexy:

@Omo_Tier1, could it have been that Osaze made the issue of Captainship the condition for playing for the Super Eagles? Remember he hasn't made himself available in the recent past for games or been left out entirely by the coaching crew. Besides, Yobo has been doing very well for the team, both as a player and the captain and he certainly commands the respect of his team mates and what do you think would happen if Keshi yields to his demand and "imposes" him on the team as captain? Certainly, those members who are "loyal" to Yobo would definitely sabotage his captainship and the team's effort at AFCON 2013. So it's better for the team to leave out a player (his talent is not in any way in question), than to cause rancor so close to an important competition. Once we win our first 2 games at AFCON 2013, nobody will remember Osaze again.

P.S. In the perking order in Super Eagles, it's Yobo, Enyeama, Mikel before Osaze

franchizy: In my own opinion, I think the NFF shud persuade Keshi to recall Osaze to the squad since the final list has not been submitted to CAF. We need the AFCON trophy back to Nigeria. Osaze is realy in form at West Brom and wil make an impact if included in the Nigerian squad. Rift or No rift, we want Osaze pls

sshalom: His exclusion from the team is based on past antecedents and documented squabbles with Siasia. One way or the other, coaches don't like disruptive personalities in their squads.

tpapi: Osaze is a rebel n a traitor,he cannot b trusted in d super eagles team,we don't want any disaffection among the team mates,his axin is a welcom development,dis is certainly d end of d road for osaze vis a vis the super eagles

Rossikk:

I actualy believe this Odemwingie buffoon thinks because he's mixed-race he deserves some sort of special status in the team. I've never heard of a player outrightly demanding captainship of even a club, how much more a national team. His effrontery is really something to behold. Thankfully we have enlightened coaches like Siasia and Keshi who do not hesitate to put him in his place.

aribisala0: It is important to respect yourself,your coach and your country as well as your culture.

Regardless of who is right or wrong a National coach is the principal of ALL players and they MUST subordinate themselves.
Osaze seeems to have a problem with that and has shown disdain for coaches several times.

His most recent tweet about "West Brom wanted me back for an important match but the coach won't let me" is a perennial problem with African players.
Never with Brazil ,England Holland or Germany. His suggestion that it is only "a friendly" and he should be allowed to play for the club that feeds him is understandable but WRONG. It is wrong because it establishes the idea that somehow African teams are inferior to England,Brazil,Germany etc. Even if that is the case in financial terms should African players encourage this.

The friendly calendar has been aligned across the world so if Nigeria is requiring him for a friendly it is the same for Tevez,Rooney etc. Why should our players allow coaches to tell them you cannot play that friendly but your English Teammate can play or your Mexican teammate can.

Omo_Tier1:

Yes it is a problem with African players because our football administrators are dumb! How many times have you seen Nigeria play friendly on the same day other giants like Brazil, England, Germany play? The other game they played against Venezuela in the USA, how many countries played their friendly that day?

If you have not been following football, need I remind you that , my Arsene Wenger is one coach who have refused players playing international friendly for their countries claiming He needed the players for crucial games. Osazee case is no different. If his club says they need him for a match and comes out openly and tell the NFF rather feigning injury as some have, e.g. Mikel, NFF should have shown some understanding.

I think it is clear that the reasons given for His exclusion from the team is baseless and there is more personal issue involved. Also, in life, just because you are the boss today doesn't mean you would not need the help of another tomorrow. Keshi should remember that He will not be there for ever and he may never know where He will require Osazee's helping hands, so why not make friendship rather than create enemies all over?

I am sure if He had any regard for Osazee, He Keshi would have given Him a call and notify him of His non-selection. Any good leader must be robust in His decisions and do so in a manager that brew peace and unfortunately, Keshi has not displayed this quality in His handling of this matter. Also, can Nilgerians also know why Vicent Eyeama and Oba goal wasn't included in the team?

aribisala0:

This is not true Coaches cannot refuse to release players and so this claim that Arsene refused to release a player is wrong.
FIFA has a friendly calendar and clubs are obliged to release players for OFFICIAL FIXTURES OR FRIENDLIES. Can you give ONE EXAMPLE when Wenger refused to release a player??.

If a country organizes a friendly OUTSIDE the FIFA fixture schedule then clubs are not obliged to release them otherwise they MUST!

Omo_Tier1:
Haha seems you are just new to football world! FIFA. Has ruled again and again that clubs have the right to refuse players playing in international friendlies but that this should be done in a manner that promote good relationship between clubs and countries football association. It is only for major tournaments that clubs do not have much flexibility on players, hence the reason the football association always threaten to report clubs to FIFA when they refuse to release players for major tournaments.

Gabriel_sylar: how many goals do u score with charisma?

utumunta: The rot in NFF is pi.s.sing osaze off. D oda players are at home wt it bt he's nt. Him & ike uche are d two players dt give their all in every match, yet hav 2 beg 4 their shirts all d time.
Nigeria is a place whr respect 4 elders is put above everythn including nationhood n patriotism. Suffering & smiling is d code.

utumunta:
Nigeria is a place where respect 4 elders is put above everything including nationhood n patriotism.

Omo_Tier1:
If you ever manage a team, always know this, disruptive personalities are highly desirable and managing them always help to spur the team to great success. Osazee may no be a saint, however, you would agree most of his outburst is down to injustice.

Omo_Tier1: I think this saga reflects the very poor man management attitude of leaders in Nigeria in general. Most people that have commented so far appears to be ignorant of recent history. Can someone remind me why Keshi was called the boss again? Was it not the same Keshi that was dictating for coaches, selecting who should play and not play in the national team, creating cabal of errand boys or have we suddenly forgotten the late Rashidi Yekini's refusal to be Keshi's errand boy?

For crying out loud, if osazee wants to be captain, why should that exclude him from the national team given his vital role in the team currently? How about Keshi setting Him a standard of what He would like to see before He can consider Him as captain? The reason given by Keshi is so lame that it leaves one with the impression that there is personality issues going on here.it is either Keshi is looking to select yes men as team members that would do his bidding or his usual old self is taking over him again.

Osazee may not be perfect and may have had issues in the past with coaches in Nigeria but if one were to revisit those issues, largely they are issues any sane individual would want to protest against for several good reasons.

It is so sad how our national team has been reduced to nothing to the extent that the nations cup is just weeks away and I am barely excited about Nigeria reaching the second round talk less of winning the trophy.

thekoko007: Keshi is a big fool...i know it hard to beleive now but very sooon you will all know.if osaze is rude as hes making nigerians to beleive what happen to martins are you telling me martins has no place in the team and also taye taiwo as well...pls the man is a tribalist....first time a reasonable yoruba man wont be palying in the super eagles

afam4eva: Even if Osazie has been in the eagles longer than the people there, he doesn't have what it takes to be a captain. he doesn't have that charisma. Vincent Eyeama, Austin Ejide and Yobo will make better captains.

Omo_Tier1:
I hope you know that most of these upcoming players will be watching how their predecessor were treated and that would determine how drive and passion they would have for the national team.
I know the average Nigerian mentality is to axe or silence any dissenting voices and it is no surprise Osazee is being treated in this manner. Look at Alex ferguson, how many times Rooney had said few things about the club that Feggie wasn't pleased with, yet He didn't send him on load to Acrington Stanley but dealt with the issue internally and today Rooney is the one carrying the team largely.

texazzpete: How is this a 'bombshell'? Is there anything wrong in a player putting forward his name for the role of team captain?

texazzpete: How is this a 'bombshell'? Is there anything wrong in a player putting forward his name for the role of team captain?