OSAZE WANTS TO BE EAGLES SKIPPER

Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has dropped a bombshell by revealing Osaze Odemwingie has proposed himself as team skipper. Keshi told a stunned Nigeria Football Federation technical committee that the West Bromwich Albion striker has put himself forward to be the Eagles skipper. “He told them that he wants to be captain as he considers himself one of the most senior players in the current squad,” an official revealed. “But how he has behaved in the national team over the years has really run counter to his ambition to be the leader of this team. You can only lead by example.” The 31-year-old Osaze made his Eagles debut in 2002, but it was not until the 2004 Nations Cup that he established himself in the national team. Goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide as well as defender and present skipper Joseph Yobo are more senior players than Osaze in the Eagles. However, he has rowed with national team bosses, from Austin Eguavoen to Lars Lagerback, and his clash with Samson Siasia was widely regarded as one of the problems that caused Nigeria to sensationally fail to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup. It is such poor attitude that has now denied him a fifth Nations Cup appearance.