Chidi Odiah Photo: Sun News Publishing

More Stories on This Section

Former Super Eagles coach, Christian Chukwu, is not happy that CSKA Moscow defender, Chidi Odiah, would miss next year’s African Cup of Nations, following Berti Vogts pronouncement that he was not ready to gamble with the player’s fitness for the championship.

Recuperating Odiah has just bounced back from a career threatening injury, but Eagles head coach believes he cannot fit into his Nations Cup programme.
According to Chukwu, Odiah’s presence would make a big impact in the championship. He is expected to contribute his wealth of experience in the team, having featured for Nigeria in the last edition in Egypt.

"It is good to see that Odiah is playing again after a long injury, and having him for the Nations Cup will be a big boost but there’s nothing we can do now that the coach has ruled him out of the show. Nigerians would have loved to see him against Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Republic of Benin," he said.
Nigerians believe Vogts acted on his earlier vow not to give any new player a chance to make the team, but Obinna Nsofor proved him wrong when Nigeria beat Switzerland recently.

After watching Nsofor’s exciting performance at the Letzigrund Stadium, Vogts said there would be no new invitees into the national team, until after next year's African Nations Cup.
Vogts, however, insisted that Nsofor would be the last of the 'unknowns' for the time being.
"No, no new players for now," Vogts said. "Already I have Kaita and Apam. They are national players and they play for the Olympic team. Also Adeleye was very good in training sessions against Mexico and I watched him at Rotterdam.

The German coach is very serious about Eagles Nations Cup outing, as he had ordered his players to report for training a fortnight before the finals kick-off in January.
The edict will not go down well with European clubs, as they will lose the services of their Nigerian internationals…just after the New Year.

"There will be no exceptions. All players must be there on time," Vogts said in an interview in Switzerland, reported by www.kicker.de.
Several English clubs, including Chelsea, Everton, Portsmouth and Newcastle would be forced to release their players from around January 5 for the pre-tournament camp, scheduled for the Spanish island of Malaga.

According to FIFA rules, clubs have to release players to their national teams 14 days before a continental championship.
At previous tournaments, Nigeria allowed players such as Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha to arrive on the eve of their first matches.
Nigeria players in England include Kanu, Obafemi Martins, Joseph Yobo, John Obi Mikel and John Utaka.

But Odiah’s inclusion would have been a big relief for Vogts, as his club would be willing to release him for the Ghana 2008 fiesta.
The player would have been a good support to Taye Taiwo and Rabiu Afolabi.
Odiah started his career in 2000 when he featured in the Pepsi All-Star Game, and also made the All-Star Team at the end of the season.
The following year, he won the Moldovan double in his first season with Sheriff Tiraspol.
In 2002, he won the Moldovan Cup with Sheriff Tiraspol, defeating Nistru Otaci 3–2. Odiah, sent off in the 54th minute, also won the league.

Two years later, he moved from Sheriff to Russian Premier League club, CSKA Moskva.
In 2005 he had an impressive UEFA Cup campaign, as CSKA shocked Europe by eliminating top sides like Auxerre, Benfica and Parma. Odiah got a goal in the quarter-final first leg tie against Auxerre.
CSKA reached the final where they defeated Sporting Lisbon 3–1 and became the first Russian club to win an European cup. Odiah was in action for 90 minutes. He also helped his team get a double, as CSKA won the Russian Cup.

In 1999, he captained the Under-17 team in the Meridian Cup.
Odiah was on the bench for Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Eritrea (4–0), in May.
He returned to the National Team, as he played in the World Cup qualifiers away against Zimbabwe and Gabon in 2004.
In March 2005, he took part in Nigeria's FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gabon.