TheCable

Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike believes interim coach Stephen Keshi broke one of his own rules when he criticised him in an interview with the media.

Keshi dropped the Fenerbache striker to the bench in last month’s 3-2 loss to Congo in Calabar and criticised him for arriving late to camp.

But the 2013 Cup of Nations topscorer has spoken out about his manager’s comments, and believes he made a mistake.

“There are certain things you’d not expect from your coach,” Emenike told BBC Sport.

“If there’s any problem, as a player, you only want to find out directly from him and not in the media; it’s something he taught us.

“I feel honoured playing for Nigeria and I respect the coach like my own father. I give my all to the team because we are like one big family any time we all come together.

“But for him to say I am creating a problem in the team and my teammates are unhappy with me is sad and unacceptable.

“It’s like sending a wrong message to the fans, but if the coach feels my invitation will not bring the needed results or peace in the team, he can leave me out.”

Emenike is in the squad Keshi is banking on to kick-start Nigeria’s quest for qualifying for AFCON 2015 in Morocco starting with the two games against Sudan in October.