By Ime Bassey
As the list of the Super Eagles went public on Thursday with the name of  West Brom’s prolific goal poacher Osaze Odemwingie conspicuously missing and raising eyebrows, the Nigerian Football Association has stated that the decision to leave Osaze out of the team was borne out of him (Osaze) walking out of the team after their last Orange CAF African Nations Cup Qualifiers against Ethiopia in Abuja.

Clearing the air on the issue, member of the technical committee and former Green Eagles Captain, Christian Chukwu said the committee decided on the grounds of the report made available to them.

“We deliberated on the issue and learnt that Osaze walked out on the team. He is still a member of the team, when ever he wants to come back he will be welcomed.

“When a son says he wants to go out, the father cannot hold him, the only thing is that the father will always be there to open the door for him when is feels okay to come back. You cannot force somebody against his wish in our present world.

This is a friendly match, I hope that before we play Ethiopia may be things will be alright,” Chukwu said.
On whether the Benin born player will be recalled for the game against Ethiopia, the former Kenyan coach said “the list we made public does not mean that he cannot be recalled to the team so long as he is ready to play,” Chukwu added.

On the part of the first Vice President of the football house, Chief Mike Umeh, he said Nigerians should not bother themselves too much on the matter as the prerogative to select players that are good enough to tackle the Albiceleste and the Walya Antelopes on June 1 and 4 respectively lies with Coach Samson Siasia.

“Really, the onus of inviting players rest with the coach, he knows the best player that is in form and ready to give the best. He has a free hand to do what ever he feels okay for the team.

“We will not perform below expectation if he (Osaze) not there but I know he is not an indispensable player,” Umeh said.