bboiabb:
Unrepentant West Bromwich Albion striker Peter Osaze Odemwingie has been dropped by Nigeria coach Samson Siasia for disciplinary reasons from next month's two matches against Argentina and Ethiopia.

Siasia punished Odemwingie for walking out on the team before a friendly against Kenya in March, and the striker, who has netted 15 goals in the English Premier League, has yet to apologise for his misconduct.

"The other players in the team had threatened to stage a mass protest and back out of other matches if I failed to sanction Osaze for leaving the camp in Abuja without permission," said Siasia. "I had no option but to do this to instil discipline in the team."

Siasia added: "I didn't want a situation where I or Nigeria would be totally disgraced by the players. Let discipline be maintained. Osaze is not bigger than the team or the whole Nigeria." The coach is known as a stiff disciplinarian, dropping Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel from the 2008 Olympics Games, where they reached the final.

He recalled Dynamo Kiev midfielder Yusuf Ayila, who last featured at the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, for the friendly against Argentina on 1 June in Abuja and a CAF Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia four days later in Addis Ababa.

The Nigeria squad:
Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv/ISR), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda/ISR), Austin Ejide (Hapoel Petah Tikva/ISR)

Defenders: Joseph Yobo (Fenerbache/TUR), Taye Taiwo (Marseille/FRA), Dele Adeleye (Metalurh Donetsk/UKR), Chibuzor Okonkwo (Heartland), Efe Ambrose (Ashdod/ISR), Yusuf Mohammed (Al Hilal/SUD)

Midfielders: John Obi Mikel (Chelsea/ENG), Joel Obi (Inter Milan/ITA), Fengor Ogude (Valerenga/NOR), Nosa Igiebor (Lillestrom/NOR), Nnamdi Oduamadi (AC Milan/ITA), Promise Isaac (Manisaspor/TUR), Kalu Uche (Almeria/SPA), Yusuf Ayila (Dynamo Kiev/UKR)

Forwards: Obinna Nsofor (West Ham/ENG), Ikechukwu Uche (Real Zaragoza/SPA), Ekigho Ehiosun (Warri Wolves), Ahmed Musa (VVV Venlo/NED), Victor Anichebe (Everton/ENG), Peter Utaka (OB Odense/DEN), Emmanuel Emenike (Karabukspor/TUR)

http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1437823.html

prof.femi:

Isn't it funny that most Nigerians know that the Super Eagles have always had problems with discipline and yet when a coach takes steps to stamp authority on the team, people start talking about "most in-form player".

I have always liked Osaze, and in the past, felt he was the most committed Eagle. I have come to realize recently to my dismay that he has a serious discipline problem.

He cannot try that stuff he pulled with any coach worth his salt: not just (a)leaving camp but (b)broadcasting it on twitter and (c) abusing the coach (d)ON TWITTER!!! Haba. Can you imagine anyone trying this to Ferguson or Mourinho? Or any coach worth his salt?

face it or not, football is all about discipline and teamwork. Great as Messi is, without other Barca players clicking he can't win a match alone.

Osaze needs to learn discipine. Let the coach do his job, and let the rest of us keep our trap shut.

@ Tee jay

I'm all for disciplining a player, but you don't try and prove a point by ostracising one of your best players even after he has apologised. Like siasia himself was not a rebel and a trouble maker in his time! All that and westerhoff still called him up and played him, so why is he being a hypocrite?
I know what osaze Did was out of order, but hey these things happen in modern day football, siasia should just be matured and let the matter die.

jp philips:

Where are you from?

jp philips:

The question is " where are you from?"

Because it is only in the Animal Kingdom that you slap your father and still sit with the family for breakfast

I repeat "where are you from?"

Did siasia ever apologise to westerhoff? Besides osaze has already made public his remorse regarding the whole affair, what else does siasia want? For him to prostrate in the middle of Abuja stadium?

jp philips:

Have you ever had the opportunity of being a leader of a group of Adults no matter how little?

I'm all for disciplining a player, but you don't try and prove a point by ostracising one of your best players even after he has apologised. Like siasia himself was not a rebel and a trouble maker in his time! All that and westerhoff still called him up and played him, so why is he being a hypocrite?
I know what osaze Did was out of order, but hey these things happen in modern day football,  siasia should just be matured and let the matter die.