Former Nigeria international Mobi Oparaku says Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen must be sanctioned by the NFF for missing Thursday’s international friendly with Portugal.
Osimhen was included by head coach Jose Peseiro for the friendly with Qatar World Cup-bound Portugal.
But on Monday the NFF confirmed that Osimhen will no longer feature in the friendly and will be replaced by Cremonese striker Cyriel Dessers.
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Also out of the friendly is Orlando Pirates defender Olisa Ndah who has been replaced by Chidozie Awaziem.
And reacting to Osimhen’s withdrawal Oparaku, a member of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic gold medal winning Dream Team, labelled it sabotage.
“This is sabotage. He wasn’t injured, I saw him at the weekend and he was not substituted due to injury,” the 1998 Super Eagles World Cup star told Brila FM.
“Because it’s a friendly and we are not going to the World Cup he has come out to say he is not playing. This is sabotage he should be sanctioned.“
Osimhen’s last appearance for the Eagles was in the 10-0 win away to São Tomé and Principe in the AFCON qualifiers in June this year.
He was on target for Napoli in their 3-2 win against Udinese at the weekend which took his tally in the league to nine in 11 games.
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61 Comments
Why? You follow buy football boot for him? Make una leave the guy alone joor
He doesn’t wants to play. So be it . Useless country
Uselless country we know!!! What have you guys done to redeem her image? Nothing!!!! Absolutely nothing!!! If Amusan that we all celebrate thinks like some of this ingrate guys probably she won’t be celebrated in a way she has been celebrated in Nigeria.
Nigeria gave some of these guys the platform through which they are using now. Fine make use of this opportunity to shoot himself to lime light, i tell that many would be a great potential far better than Him couldn’t smell that opportunity.
Now the has come for you to delight your fans who must have been praying for your well being and then some of you here are supporting lies, using the excuse of Nigeria is useless. God is watching all of you including the player that chooses which match to play for His country. God bless samuel okwaraji and those who at one time stood against their clubs antics just to represent their fathers land.
thank you I love that speech is better we guys start thinking about what can do for our country Nigeria to make it great again especially people in abroad to start and forget about all these corrupt politicians .. as one said is not about what the country can do for you but what can you do for the country.
U dey talk nonsense
This guy may be protesting the irresponsible way the World Cup qualifier campaign was handled, sacking a coach in the middle of the qualifier without consideration to the stability of the team. These players are not machine. They are human beings with blood in their veins. We had no business not to be in the World Cup.
You really think Rohr the sacking of Rohr still dey Osimhen Mind, Lol. Some of you are really funny.
Osimhen realises he is Nigeria’s best player at the moment that is simply it. Rohr would not have qualified Nigeria for World Cup niether would he have won AFCON. not the way that his tried and tested soldiers menatlity was begining to get out of Hand.
Imagine a coach who had Osimhen on his rooster still coming out to say we needed Igahlo more than Osimhen at the time it was Outreageous and even more so now. Rohr Killed our ball and denied alot of players much needed jelling in the team because he was petting his favourites. Rohr is gone and dusted I dont thnik Rohr still crosses Osimhen’s mind to be honest. Besides he is a fully fledged proffessional and has in his career so far already played under 4 different club coaches if he had that mentality he would not be as successfull as he is. this mentality you are trying to put forward is the typical Nigerian mentality that got us were we are today.
Then why has honored this call?
Because He is feeling too big to honour Nigeria call maybe hence a sanction is required to nib this bad behaviour in the bud. amd if he doesn’t take it well and rebels so be it. We will rely on Umar Sadiq when he becomes available.
I must say I even with Ahmed Musa Lack of ability of late he will never behave like this.
Mikel Obi always honoured call ups. Victor has this Ego problem which is starting to become clear and he needs to be brought down to earth irrespective of how good he is. Period. What good is his ability to us if he always denies call ups
He is just being arrogant. If he’s angry or protesting for not qualifying for the world cup, was he not played as a striker to score goals but couldn’t perform his duty. He needs to be told that he can’t hold the nation to ransome and he’s not indispensable and Nigeria can do without him. He has not done any tangible thing for Nigeria. He’s never available when he is needed and when he was available in a crucial world cup qualifying match he was aimlessly and unnecessarily bicycle-kicking in front of goal.
He also be told not to bit the finger that feeds him. He should remember his little beginning.
Osihmen is an idiot , he is one of the reasons Nigeria is not in the world cup.
He faked an injury during the nation’s cup and he made a hopeless choice to take a bicycle kick to score a spectacular goal when there were several simplier choices . One day he will regret his actions
What have Unuael and Dosu got to say about this?
Lol I think say na me be d only one who dey see this every time I visit this site hehehehe
Yes, if he truly sabotaged the game, he should be punished. And to some of you saying otherwise, you are part of the problem. The current management inefficiency, or the wrong sacking of a coach in the past (which I doubt), does not give any player the fortitude to skip games. Who is he? Infact, at the national level, he has not really done anything…..he should calm down
How would you feel if your labor is being upturned by inefficient management? Would it motivate you or discourage you? This guy gives 100% and as you can see he is also human
It’s high time players start protesting against the shambolic management style of NFF: from refusing to pay coaches to blunt refusal to settling players bonuses to unforgivable refusal to plan thoroughly for qualifying games to gross lack of foresight and criminal laziness and lack of creative actions. You expect players to kowtow to you. Foul. Courageous players like Osimhen would tell you off. Go sit down.
Your collective atrocities yanked him off his route to Qatar. Yet you want him to gladly serve as training material for one of the teams. Would you write off his medical bills or sort out his weekly wages if he got injured? Osimhen, I hope others follow your footsteps.
Nigeria’s former footballers are ignorant, insensitive and illiterate critics. Chief Oparaku probably does not know the details of anything happening in football outside Owerri
They want the boy to loose his first team spot.When he was injured Napoli did not miss him Infact the team was scoring goals that I was afraid for him if he will ever get his shirt back.
Just that the coach believes in him knowing what Osimhen brings to the team hence he is playing today.
Anybody clamouring for him to be sanctioned should have a rethink because if he is not playing regularly they are the first to question his invitation to the national team.Lets take it easy with the guy to enable him establish himself
What are you talking about??? Wch first team spot??? World cup is here and no Seria A or Epl till after the world cup. Most of his team mates are with there National team preparing for international games.
My brother don’t stress yourself, the guy is already making himself a God, he is untouchable and feels we can’t do without him. All the teams that have friendlies today and tomorrow, with all there super stars showing up, can he try such attitude in a big European team. it s only in Africa a player sees himself above the country.
In my opinion I think Napoli may want to prevent any form of injuries or extended injury to their star man.
However,Osimhen may have had a knock against Udinese,because midway into the game he was badly tackled and needed medics to continue in the game,was uncomfortable for a few minutes,though he finished the match to make his injury claim unacceptable by some sections of football fans across the country.
I don’t think sanctioning Osimhen is the right thing to do,I think Napoli could see the Portuguese game as a friendly and may want to protect Osimhen from aggravating any form of knock,minor injuries which could get worse they can’t afford to have him on the sides as they have a real chance of finishing tops this season,a feat they have to wait over 30years to achieve.They may have sat with Osimhen to rub minds and come with this conclusion,it’s better you use this opportunity of 6 weeks break to recover fully and remain fresh for the task ahead.
We should leave Osimhen alone,we don’t need any form of distraction sanctioning a star player could bring to the team.Players like that do have great support amongst their teammates,placing a sanction on him may cause chaos in the team and I don’t think we need that not at this times we are working hard to build a solid team after the world cup playoffs disappointment.
What is Napoli saving Osimhen from? There is no football for almost 6 weeks because of the world cup. Italian Serie A is already on break. Even if Osimhen picks up an injury playing friendlies now, he would have recovered by the time the league resumes after the world cup.
Tristan the League will only Resume in January Napoli next game is on 3 January. The boy is just feeling too big as his fame increase. He needs to be brought down to earth a sanction should definitely suffice and I am in support of it
@Tristan,you have a point but this clubs are selfish they will rather protect their players against any circumstances.
They invested so much and think they have a right over the players,it’s all business isn’t it?The likes of Osimhen are star players with a price tag of over €100m a huge investment for the club hence the protection.Though we are all assuming he could be genuinely crocked.Whether it’s minor or major he shouldn’t be risked in my opinion end of the day it’s just a friendly,it’s best we keep him healthy for future competitive engagements ahead where his talent will come handy.
you talk more like a Nigerian than the comment earlier. You want to do a coach job for him? the same coach you so much cast aspersion on qualified the same team for 2018 WC against all odds so what suddenly changed?. Osimhen, I can assure you would be the first player to be in camp if Eagles were ending to Qatar so why is he not coming for this friendly match?
Other players are taking notw of Osimhen’s attitude. And that’s the problem. Of the coaches and NFF don’t address his issue now, it may lead to a big Disciplinary issue in that team. Let Peseiro not lose control of that team. We are definitely on tgat pathway is things like this are encouraged in the team.
Oparaku should shut up . Who would Osimhen play a meaningless friendly and get injured? Other Countries are using Nigeria as gate keeper to prepare for world cup what has Mobi done to improve our football since he retired other than sit on the sidelines and critises. Useless people
It’s you and your cohort supporting this boy behavior that actually need to shut up, like seriously ? Can’t believe any sane soccer lover would support this act from a player, so osimhen have now become maradona, pele, Messi and cr7 overnight because he has score 10goal? Pesero shd sanction him personally and if the NFF think otherwise, they also should be sanctioned , what nonsense.
I beg to disagree@Femi.
Pls leave Osimhen alone.
As far as I’m concerned, that match is inconsequential and relatively frivolous and capable of opening fresh wounds of not going to the world cup in both players and fans.
Terem moffi, Onuachu Paul & Dessers are equal to the task.
Shalom!
Yes they are equal to the task, he should come out and tell us he is done playing for the nation instead of faking injuries, are we even certain of a win with him? It’s not about him been there or not, just that’s this getting too much from him. Common
This sort of individual has a similar mentality with the boy in question. When these boys were looking for fame and breakthrough, they will be so humble and submissive. But once they use the country to get what they want, they become rebellious. Osomhen would have been nothing if not the opportunity provided by Amuneke and his men. That alone should make him think twice before wearing his shoulder pad. Kanu, Okocha Yekini throughout their playing career
never look down on the national team. I remember Kanu as an Ajax player playing against Uganda im an Olympic qualifier as one of the few foreign based players almost a year before the team made it. He knew where he was as a nobody before Nigeria gave him that break in Japan 93. Osimhen has a worse story than Kanu. Yet Nigeria gave him the platform to excel. He should learn forn these eople. Attitude like this, of permitted can cause a real problem in the team. Peseiro really needs to talk about him.
You lie @Papafemi on Okocha, he was the reason for missing out of WC 2006 by choosing which of the qualifier matches to honour. In particular the first leg against Angola in Luanda, his presence in that match could’ve salvage a point for us but he stayed away (even as the Captain) and we lost that game by 0:1 and that gave Angola a big advantage over us
Leave OSIMHEN alone, he is too big for a training material to Portugal
Oyea too big to play against cr7 and the rest array of stars in Portugal camp? Wow wow wiw
When Pinnick appointed Eguavoen to coach the Super Eagles and crash Nigeria out of the World Cup where was Mobi Oparaku with his sanctions?
Yes na, because Eguavoen was on the field playing for 180 minutes without directing the ball to the goal. Cut coaches some slack. Would Osimhen not have played if Napoli had a mid week match?
I hope Osimhen does not want to behave like today CR7?
How many international matches are being played yearly?
Yeah the guy need to be Sanctions coz when it got to play for Nigeria he will fake injury Nigeria NFF should forget about him
He has reported for all important games.Go through records of our playoffs he’s always one of the first to report to camp so I will disagree with you on that.
Osihmen is only messing up his own carrier, wether he plays or not, Nigeria will always move on, very soon terem muffy and dessers will be in position to Challenge him, we still have boniface and chuba akpon, the likes of awoniyi, sadiq umar, paul unuachu and iheanacho should retire, they are the junk footballers that makes us depending on osimen
Not shocked, not surprised, this is what happens when you feel you on top of the world. Eg Ronaldo. It’s so appalling with some responses from some forum members. What many have forgotten is Nigeria made him what he s today, just like someone stated we gave him the platform to be who he is, he probably will be some where in croatia etc. He is just feeling indispensable. And until someone comes and takes his place. This is the arrogant behavior we will be getting.
Dnt even compare the yeye boy with cr7, cr7 have paid his due in soccer and can call anybody bluff, he can even decide to hang his booth right now.
Of all the friendlies, none has been won rather been trashed, other countries are using naija for testing and yet no winning plan from the Nigerian side… The young man no want collect some goals on his head…
I am so shocked. I am a big fan of osihmen,but honestly ,he got this all wrong. Definetly, he should be punished and left out from subsequent matches.
National teams barely play 15 matches a year. I hope our coach will remind him of that in subsequent meetings.
And Osimhen has not even won a major trophy and is behaving like this.
All of u that says osimhen should be punished are mad .. what will he come and play for , u guys are all idiots If I was osimhen I would have chosen to play for a more better and trust worthy country
Everyone should take a chill pill, Osimhen is never one to fail to honor invitations of the national team. At least, give him a benefit of doubt!
We treat these footballers as if they are not human, what if he had a fever or illness, is he still expected to come?? The fact that you saw him play over the weekend does not mean that in between that he did no fall ill. STOP WITH ALL THESE NEGATIVE ENERGY!! You can be walking and sprain your ankle, these things do happen.
I saw pictures of Granit Xaka training and a few days later he could NOT carry on with the game against Wolves because of something he ate. In our secular jobs, we could come to work one day and the next day fail to report to work because of illness. This things happen. Please Relax!!!
Thank you bro, you just said everything, Osimhen is also one which when invited to play for national team play with all his might and even to the extent of sustaining injury at the process of playing with his all for SE.
I love and respect Osimhen and he’s a great and wonderful player.
Maduka did it and got away with it
Dennis did the same and got away with it.
It’s the reason why Osimhen is doing the same.
So many acts of indiscipline being displayed by current crops of players.
This team may end up as the most talented and valuable team without a major success/trophy.
You don expect a coach whose half of his salary is wired to private account (Picnic, Dare and cohorts) to stamp his authority on a team..
You don’t expect a team whose coaches report to Eguzero for team selection and techniques to win a trophy..
EFCC should be invited to investigate the nff from 1998 till date.
How many Nigerians including Mobi Oparaku sent Victor Osimhen a get-well message when he fractured an eye socket that almost ended his career?
FULKS, relax your nerves. Osimhen is not the first Star player to do this. Nobody can say accurately why our son, Osimhen declined to honor this particular call. After all, it is only a friendly game which, will perhaps, enable Portugal to properly face Ghana in their forthcoming match in their World Cup group stage. To call for a sanction against your stay player for not showing up to play in a friendly game is an over-kill statement. What happened to Mikel Obi when he did not show up for the World Cup proper in South Africa? He said he was injured and that was it. This particular Game is more important to Portugal than to Nigeria. Portugal is going to the World cup and Nigeria is not. Why risking your legs and limbs for a friendly game just to satisfy the fans. Okay, why don’t the coach try Paul Onunchu to replace Osimhen in this match? Let’s be realistic, my friends.
Again, I will say it. Osimhen is showing signs of pride. Week in week out, we pray for him to score in Italy. He better watch it so his goals don’t dry up when the season resumes. He better have a rethink and fly to Portugal immediately.Same thing happened to Dennis when hr shunned the national team during the nations cup.Osimhen,pls learn.be humble and patriotic.
I have always talked about oshimen s attitude. This attitude will limit him..
His attitude towards ikpeba was very crude and foolish and he never apologized.
I also heard about someone he owed money somewhere.
And this rubbish. He has not scored 20 goals in a season, he has not won any European title. He is still a small boy.
He needs help. He is choosing matches.
How can a normal human being decide to miss a match against Portugal and Ronaldo.. funny. He needs help.
Well, he should be punished to serve as a lesson to others. Nigeria is bigger than anyone.
Was Mikel not chasing matches in his early days too? Even important competitive matches at that.
So please leave Osimhen alone, let him take good care of himself during this break and come back stronger. Him mates dey go WC but you wan you him do training material for Ronaldo, he has played against him several times in Seria A so no big deal.
Rather admonish your useless NFF to sit up and face their responsibilities
….chosing matches…..
Bank and you are correct super eagles fan. I doubt that. So other players should do the same. Then who will play for us. I am surprised about how some people reason Sha. Wait till when his negative attitude will kill his career.ch
Some people can be funny. They said he’s not supposed to be available for the friendly that it’s useless since we didn’t qualify for the World Cup.
Same fans want Musa out of the team at 29, Ekong at 29, Omeruo at 29, Shehu at 28, Balogun at 33, Ighalo should not come back, Etebo is struggling at club level, Iheanacho is a bench warmer, Indidi is an Injury prone, needs a replacement, Aina will miss the next competitive match hence, we need replacement etc
And yet, playing friendlies is not necessary.
No World Cup, Nations cup had been shifted, we are not playing any competitive match soon yet we don’t need to build for the future?
We have New NFF Chairman, New coach so we want new team, new faces, new style for the future . That’s why Osimhen needs to sit up.
Though his absence now can be a plus for us as we can use it to find his replacement in case of time like this but he also needs to blend with the new guys as our number one hit man.
Oparaku, did you say sanction? I firmly believe that this is your level of understanding. Indeed, you failed to understand that Portugal is going to the world cup and Nigeria is not. Portugal wants to use Nigeria for practice and prepare for the world cup. Nigeria has nothing to show for the friendly. Osimhen may sustain an injury during the friendly and that may again extend his rate of injury incident for this season. He is pursing for his club in serie A to become a league champion and you want him to lose that ambition. Remember he is not also not going to the world cup. My friend, this will amount to double jeopardy. Oparaku, think twice.
If you have ever managed a team of individuals where there is a common goal to achieve, you’ll know how dangerous it is to permit this kind of attitude.
It’s not just about Osmihen; it’s about the group. It’s a sure pathway to arrant indiscipline in the group. There should be a standard when players are taking permission to stay from matches. Apart from a player coming up with verifiable excuses,such claims should be properly communicated to the coaching crew in record time and the other members of the group most understand why. It’s that simple . If Osmihen has reasons to stay away from friendly matches and nothing is done about it, other players in that team will begin to develop their reasons to stay away with time. It may create animosity, great division and consequently affect the overall team spirit of the team. There should be a level playing ground for everyone.
Reason I will advise the coach to depen the depth of the squad in order not to make some players indispensable. This will also give him the freedom to discipline an erring player when and where necessary and ensure general sanity in the team.
I’m really worried about Osimhenn’s attitude being a key leader in the team. It’s simply not good enough, to be honest.
Osimhen,is my man any day..i will always root 4 him 4 gud. But as a patriotic Nigerian and a football lover; we should call a spade a spade. Osimhen can only escape sanction only if( whether injury or not) present a well satisfied reason he excused himself from the match. Pride is a detrimentalist,but humility is a lifter. Majority of the players that honors the invitation are far more better than him,trophy-wise. My guy is not trying; if Nigeria should look away now,heaven will not fall,the eagles will still fly. Nigeria has paid her dues by exposing him to the level he is now,if he fells to live within his limit,my man will regret it. Don’t get committed only in tournaments,always be there when your parents needs you. A child that gives too much excuse end up been hated. The haters of Nigeria will only rate an individual much more than the group that works in cohesion to achieve a common goal. No individual is bigger than the country; 6weeks of rest is long enof for a worker,We should be patriotic.
Nigerians and stupidity! Must you leave your burning house and be running round looking for rat to kill?? what a mess!!
Victor.. you people are here killing yourselves is in overseas enjoying and dollars .
His security is well assured, light and everything but see you people the mumus, here, battling worst economy in the whole world, fighting terrible corruption, zero security, even our securities are now kidnappers, no light, nothing nothing…. Fuel is now selling at the price of #250 per liter and you all are here bashing Victor that is in heaven on Earth.
Nigeria is not a nation to represent in a global world right now, that’s the message he is trying to send across but foolish you, is here sentencing him …
Sorry! Use this energy to talk about this corrupt politicians, and speak extensively against some of the evil men trying to buy their ways into power again so they can turn us to more useless nation.
Thanks as you chose the path of deeep thinking about my comment than criticizing or cursing me…
But when Osimhen was looking for fame and career breakthrough, Nigeria was a country to represent. When they are struggling and looking for a platform to announce their talent to the world,Nigeria would be a country to play for. But once they hit the limelight and money starts coming in, Nigeria would suddenly become a country not to play for. People and their mentality. Do you know the number of talented kids and individuals various national teams, especially the age grade teams have lifted out of penury. Osimhen was one. Kanu was another. And so many of them. So if they didn’t see Nigeria as terrible and while climbing the ladder of the country up,they shouldn’t see the country as bad,not good enough to represent when they get to that top. A good number of ass leakers. We find it hard to speak the truth because of the love or affection we have for an individual. We have normalized abnormality and encourage dissent and Indiscipline in the system. What we stand to gain in so doing, only God can explain.
Philipido why are you thinking like this. Eto was great in Europe yet he played for his country. Weah was great yet he played for his country. Kanu, okocha were great yet they won’t miss these types of matches. Can you please rewrite your comment. He showed the wrong mentality and attitude again. He showed disrespect to his mates. I think we should stop thinking this way. I read some people were saying Nigeria does not deserve him…who is he? What has he achieved.
I wonder what has gone wrong with our values in this country. I am surprised some people are defending this foolishness from oshimen. For goodness sake he owes Nigeria lots of gratitude. We gabe him tge chance. He doesn’t play for free. He isnoaid from tax prayers money. He is not sensitive to the mood of the nation. He doesn’t care about the fans. Football keeps us together and keeps us happy especially when we see our foreign pros playing. Taking a decision to avoid this match shows he need help