The war declared by West Brom forward Osaze Odemwingie following his exclusion from the Nations Cup-bound Super Eagles by Coach Stephen Keshi has backfired, with two prominent Nigerian sports journalists blacklisting him and hoping that their colleagues would do the same.

Mumini Alao, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nigeria’s leading sports daily, Complete Sports, and Kayode Tijani, a foremost sports presenter on radio and TV, announced a ban on Osaze yesterday and today respectively.

Writing in his popular column SOCCER TALK, Alao recalled that he wrote the following about Osaze last year:

“The Osazee I know used to be a modest, cool-headed young man. But he seems to have lost his way since scoring 15 goals in the English Premier League debut last season. The momentary success has entered his head, but it’s not too late for him to retrace his steps. Until I observe that he has purged himself of his stupid arrogance and insolence, I will not mention Osazee in my Column again. I just can’t stand people who are too full of themselves. I hope his media advisers can pass on the message.”

Irked by Osaze’s quarrel with Keshi and the Nigeria Football Federation following his omission from the 32-player list for the final camping in Faro, Portugal, Alao wrote:

“The Leopard cannot change its spots. My embargo on this player is still in force so I won’t repeat his name here. But early this week, he went on Tweeter again to rant and rave about his exclusion from the Eagles Squad to South Africa 2013. If there was any doubt about whether Stephen Keshi was right to drop him in the first place, the player provided enough evidence to his insolence by insulting virtually everybody on Tweeter. We don’t need such a divisive player in our national football team. Nigerian journalists, please let’s move on and talk about the 32 players the Coach has shortlisted for the AFCON. Let’s stop wasting time and space on this one player who is on an ego trip.”

Tijani agreed totally with Alao in a write-up he posted on Facebook this morning entitled “Dealing With The Osazee Odemwingie Irritant The Mumini Alao Way.”
According to Tijani, “What I detest most in my Life are ARROGANT People. So naturally I have been at the forefront of castigating the consistent irritations that’s the OSAZEE ODEMWINGIE distractions over the past years, fighting the last four Eagles Coaches and thinking he’s indispensable and the best thing after sliced bread while he’s never achieved ANYTHING of note in Club and International Football. It becomes even more annoying when lots of Nigerians see nothing wrong in his behavior but chose to castigate the Coaches.

"I can’t agree more. Therefore I am taking Alao’s advice hundred per cent. NO MORE ONE SINGLE COMMENT ON MT OSAZEE ODEMWINGIE.”

•Photo: Out-of-favour Osaze Odemwingie.

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