Since the new coach of the Nigerian National team, Sunday Oliseh, released the lists of his invited players to camp who would be picked for the forthcoming 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania, fans have been questioning the exclusion of some vital players.
While responding to questions from journalists in Abuja, the head coach of the team explained that he had taken a tour round Europe to speak and watch players perform and has made various consultations and still waiting for response.
On why he did not invite Chelsea star, Mikel Obi, the coach explained that he had put a call through to the player’s line about four times including a text message but was yet to get a response from the player.
He noted that it was only Victor Moses, that acknowledged his call and later came down to his hotel room where he had to talk to him to be focus in his games.
“Well this issue is an enigma and we have been trying to understand it but I am in the dark personally, and with my assistants we spent time about 11 days in and around Europe talking to players, watching games. We contacted each of the players, call them up, call the clubs and eventually met with the players.
“I went to England on a Thursday and Chelsea was just coming back, we had fixed our visit to coincide with the end of their tour before they played Arsenal. I contacted Obi Mikel, called him on phone four times, the phone kept on ringing nobody picked it up, I sent him an SMS and got no response. But I called Victor Moses the phone rang three times and he picked it up and I spoke with him, told him to concentrate on his game.
After the game he came to my hotel and we met and I told him my plans for the national team. I left to Liverpool to meet the other player and I spent about six hours to go there and back but there was no response from Mikel until I returned here.
I think it was yesterday (Wednesday) that I saw a missed call, so at the moment I don’t know what the situation is. For me everybody is the same and will be treated the same.”