Sunday Oliseh, has expressed his shock over Emenike’s retirement

Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, has expressed his shock over the sudden retirement of Emmanuel Emenike from the national team.

The Fenerbahce striker who is on loan at Al Ain, confirmed on his Instagram page that he was quitting after five years.

                                     

“It was a big shocker for us and a big shocker for me personally… personally, I still don’t accept that he has retired because officially I have not heard anything from him and I don’t think the Federation have also heard from him; only what we know is what was posted on social media,” Oliseh told Sports Radio Brila FM on Wednesday.

Oliseh insisted that he made Emenike part of the new team he was building and gave him more minutes than other strikers.

“I have made him (Emenike) part of our rebuilding process; in fact, he has had more playing time than any striker we have had, so I am very very surprised that he has decided to retire,” he said.

The Eagles boss also revealed that he tried to speak with Emenike over the phone, but got no response and was expecting the player to call back.

“He has not reached me but I have called him twice, because immediately I heard this, first I thought it was all these lies on social media so I called him twice yesterday (Tuesday), I am expecting a return call from him, it is when I hear from him that I would fully accept that he is retiring,” Oliseh added.

“He is a man. If a man chooses to retire, it should be his decision; if you force him back it could be counterproductive…If truly he retires, then it is a shame because we have him pretty much in our rebuilding plan. Be that as it may, I have always said only one thing is irreplaceable and that is Nigeria itself; we are all replaceable and that is it.”