Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike, has expressed his unhappiness, over the way Stephen Keshi has treated him, after he picked up a hamstring injury at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Spartak Moscow player, who ended the competition as the top scorer, says he has not heard from the coach, who eventually left him out of the squad to Kenya in a World Cup qualifier ever since.
“I must be honest with you, I have not been treated well by the coach and the NFF because they ignored me so soon, so fast,” he said in an interview with MTNFootball.
“Nobody from NFF and the coach have called to ask me about my injury. I am bitter about this. It is unfair and I can tell you that is why some players don’t come to give their best for the national team.
“When a player gets injured on national duty, I think the country’s football authority and coach ought to keep in touch to let him know he is loved and cared for.
“I am not a use-and-dump player. I will not act as one at all because my club career is very much important to me than anything.”
Emenike cited the case of Victor Anichebe and said it would be hard for any player to give their best in a Nigerian jersey.
“Look at a player like (Victor) Anichebe (Everton striker was injured while on national team duty last year), no one cared about him and you think he will come to national team to give his best,” he pointed out.
“I am not worried about that but I just need to tell them it’s unfair. It is not everything that is money, but a call just to show you care could change someone’s problem at a particular time.”
He however went on to praise his Russian club, who stood by him all the way and are helping him get back to the pitch.
“I must give kudos to my club for taking good care of me even though I didn’t get the injury while playing for them,” he said.
“I can’t wait to return to my best form. I feel like playing and banging in the goals for my club right now.
“I am happy with my rehabilitation and I will start joggling soon and I believe I will respond well because I have missed the game so much.”
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