Charlez Blog

Osaze Odemwingie’s Twitter rant over his exclusion has turned him into a spoiler in the eyes of the Football Federation, some ex-Eagles’ players and even among the current crop as the National team captain, Joseph Yobo, has lashed out at the West Brom forward for being disrespectful for saying the Super Eagles has been without a leader for a long time.
Odemwingie, via his Twitter @OdemwingieP, had insinuated that recent Eagles captains have only looked out for themselves only and so the team lacks a leader.
In reaction to that allegation which seemed like a veiled attack at his captaincy, Yobo has called Odemwingie a ‘kid’ that needs to ‘grow up.
“Osaze has been reckless, disrespectful to most people. He’s not a kid, he should grow up because we cannot continue to baby sit him. He is responsible for his problems,” Yobo told Nigeria’s foremost sports radio, Brila FM on Friday.
“This is not the first time he has been disrespectful. He is fighting all the coaches and at the World Cup he also disrespected me and he later apologised.
“He is not the (Lionel) Messi or (Cristiano) Ronaldo of Nigeria. He should look himself in the mirror.”
While commending the coach, Stephen Keshi for the provisional squad he picked for the AfCON, the  Fenerbache defender however admitted that he was surprised at the exclusion of Obafemi Martins, Osaze, Taye Taiwo and Kalu Uche in the squad.
“I will give him credit for the squad. He will score 95 percent even though one or two should have been there,” said the former Everton defender.
“I’m sure he would have had some sleepless nights in selecting his team. Kalu Uche, Martins, Taye and Osaze not being there was a surprise but the coach must have his reasons and he cannot call everybody.”
Yobo, 32, also hinted next year’s AfCON might be his last so to give way for new faces in the Eagles set up.
“I think I have to admit it that this may be my last Nations Cup. We have to allow younger players to get their chance,” said the central defender, who is Nigeria’smost capped player and has featured in five Nations Cups.