Super Eagles Interim Coach, Samson Siasia, says Goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama is yet to accept the invitation to play for Nigeria.
Siasia made this known in Abuja on Thursday while unveiling the list of 42 players invited for the two-legged African Cup of Nations(AFCON) qualifying matches.
The coach had said he would assemble the country’s best players, including those that retired, for the qualifying matches against Egypt.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first-leg match is scheduled for March 25 in Kaduna, while the return-leg encounter is billed for Alexandria, Egypt, on March 29.
“I called Enyeama a couple of days ago when we were drafted to take over these two games; I called him and told him that I want him to come back and that I needed him to be part of this team.
“He told me about what happened to him in Belgium; how he drove from his base to see Oliseh and he embarrassed him.
“Again, after his mother’s burial, he came back to the team’s camp and how Oliseh spoke to him and removed the captain’s armband from him.
“He said that he is still heartbroken and that he is sorry he cannot play right now.
“I said okay and thanked him for his time and told him that the camp is open to him anytime he is ready to play,’’ Siasia said.
On the case of Emmanuel Emenike, Siasia disclosed that he never spoke to the West Ham striker, saying he left the invitation task to Dayo Enebi, the Super Eagles Secretary.
“I told Enebi to contact all the players because he has all their contacts; he has not come back to tell me the discussions he has had with the players.
“We are only reading it in the pages of newspapers that he is not interested in returning to the team.
“We want players who are interested in this game because we don’t want to beg anybody to play for his country,’’ he said.
Siasia said it was time for the players to give back their services to the country and ensure that Nigeria qualifies for the AFCON 2017 at the expense of Egypt.
NAN reports that a win in the first-leg match in Kaduna will place the Super Eagles on seven points, ahead of the Pharaohs who are currently leading the group with six points after two matches.
The 2017 AFCON will be hosted by Gabon between January and February.
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