TheCable

Amaju Pinnick, president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has ordered Dolphins’ striker Emem Eduok out of the camp of Super Eagles’ B team in the wake of his transfer imbroglio.

Nigeria are preparing for two friendlies against Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan, but Eduok has been the subject of controversy with his departure from Dolphins, after Tunisian club Esperance and Norwegian side Sarpsborg 08 are laying claim to the same player.

And Pinnick is not happy with the distraction.

“We are not happy with the cloud of controversy over his transfer issue and it is a terrible distraction to the team and Nigeria football generally.

“Telling him to leave the camp does not mean we are indicting him. We will carry out an investigation and whoever is found guilty – he/she could be an agent or player manager or an official of his club – will be duly sanctioned,” Pinnick said.

The NFF boss has now mandated Felix Anyansi-Agwu, the chairman of technical and development committee of the NFF, to conduct an investigation into the matter.

“We have to do this (send the boy out of camp) to serve as a deterrent to others. We are not blaming the player for anything yet; investigation will unravel who is guilty. But the distraction and controversy the matter has generated is not good for the camp.”

The team will play against Cote d’Ivoire in Abu Dhabi on Sunday and will then face Sudan in Dubai on January 17.