Danny Shittu has insisted that he no regrets, turning down the opportunity to represent Nigeria at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, even if he already knew they would lift the trophy.
The Millwal defender, was invited by coach Stephen Keshi, but the 32-year-old who featured in the Super Eagles 2010 World Cup campaign, said he wasn’t interested. In a recent interview, he still says nothing has changed, as he stands by that decision.
“Maybe if I were 20 or 21, I would have regrets. But there have been a lot of decisions in my life where it’s either turned out good, but I won’t say bad. Even if I had known that Nigeria [would] win the Nations Cup,” Shittu told samumukoro.com.
“At that time, it was the best decision for me to stay. Up till today I still don’t regret making that decision. Obviously players who maybe wouldn’t have played if I was there got to play.
“And who knows, I could have played and we may not have won it. So I always believe that everything happens for a reason.
“A lot of things have happened (in football and out of football) since Nigeria won the tournament, which has made me realize that it was a good reason for me to stay. So I’m happy for the players and the country.”
Shittu made it clear that he stayed back in England to help his club in the Championship and FA Cup, as well as to take care of his children.
He said: “I’m a father of four kids and have a lot of personal commitment with family, children, and other things outside of football as well, which wouldn’t have made it right for me to have just left then and gone to the Nations Cup for six weeks.
“Besides, I had not been involved with Nigeria for a long time before that. I was not involved with the qualifications and stuff like that. You know, leading up to this tournament, my life had been kind of different.
“So for me to have left these things all of a sudden to get back to playing with Nigeria again wasn’t right for me to do at that time.”
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