Obafemi Martins Makes Commitment to Nigerian Football Team

World-renowned football player, 23-year old Obafemi Martins, has been recalled to Nigeria’s football team for their upcoming World Cup qualifier in Mozambique.

The Newcastle United player raised questions in the local media due to the injuries that impaired him from playing in the first round of 2010 qualifiers. He released a statement saying that his “commitment to the national team has never wavered” and that it is “unfortunate what has been said about [him].”

Martins told BBC Sport, “I feel excited to be back on the national team fold,” and that "Hopefully I can contribute a lot towards making it to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, because all the players want to be there to fulfill a big dream."

Meanwhile, Nigeria Coach, Shaibu Amodu, has been called out by the Nigerian media for excluding Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu. He said that he had “nothing against Etuhu,” But that he would “prefer to stick to players [he has] worked with and who understand [his] ideas.”

Nigeria squad:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Hapoel Tel Aviv, Israel), Austin Ejide (Bastia, France), Dele Aiyenugba (Bnei-Yehuda, Israel)

Defenders: Yusuf Mohammed, Obinna Nwaneri (both FC Sion, Switzerland), Onyekachi Apam (Nice, France), Taye Taiwo (Marseille, France), Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Joseph Yobo (Everton, England), Danny Shittu (Bolton, England), Dele Adeleye (Sparta Rotterdam, Holland)

Midfielders: Oluwafemi Ajilore (Groningen, Holland), Jon Mikel Obi (Chelsea, England), Nwankwo Kanu (Portsmouth, England), Sani Kaita (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Kalu Uche (Almeria, Spain)

Strikers: Ikechukwu Uche (Getafe, Spain), Obafemi Martins (Newcastle United, England), Chinedu Obasi (Hoffenheim, Germany), Obinna Nsofor (Inter Milan, Italy), Joseph Akpala (Club Brugge, Belgium), Osaze Odemwingie (Locomotive Moscow, Russia)

Read More…”

This article shows that many native Nigerians don’t play for the Nigerian football team regularly. Most of them play for European teams. The most famous of which is Obafemi Martins, who plays for Newcastle United in Great Britain. Also take note of the fact that none of the Nigerian football players on the Nigerian national football team actually live in Nigeria. That’s not necessarily a good thing either. The fact that many famous Nigerians don’t live in their country shows the failing political standing of it.

"Grade This Post...."