Ogu unsurprised at the double standards of clubs towards African football
The Nigeria midfielder revealed on his verified twitter handle that he is not surprise at the attitude of foreign clubs or managers towards Africans and Africa football.
The 33-year old becomes the latest player to comment on the disrespect towards African football in the wake of Watford’s unwilling attitude to allow Emmanuel Dennis represent Nigeria at Afcon.
He recalled his own experience when a manager tried to persuade him not to honor an international call up. Consequently caused him to lose a place in the super eagles squad for 2014 FIFA world cup.
The former Leiria recalled that a Portuguese club tried to stop him from fulfilling an international duty with the Super Eagles because they needed him to play for the club in the upcoming games.
Ogu said his manager told him to lie that he was injured, and not honor the call up, but he turned a deaf ear to the manager’s suggestion and leave to play for the Super Eagles.
On returning to the club, he lost his regular spot, consequently, unable to make the squad that travel to Brazil for the 2014 world cup. The Nigeria midfielder revealed in a tweet.
I’m not even surprised at the situation of them foreign managers or clubs not wanting their players to go represent their country in tournaments. One certain manager in Portugal asked I tell the coach of Eagles then that I was injured so as not to go for a friendly game . 1/2
— John Ogu (@ogujohnugo) January 1, 2022
That was obviously a sad moment for him after not making the list. Instead of the club to try to heal the wound, they added salt to the injury
“I missed out on that World Cup list,” he continued. “The evil part of it was when the list came out and he found out I wasn’t invited, man walk up to me and asked I call the manager to list me and that if he wants, he can start me in the last game in the league”.
“I was shocked how evil one can be.”
This is similar to Dennis’s experience following his club refusal to allow him to play for Nigeria at Afcon, but he will remain at Watford to try to help the club move up the table.
Ogu in his conclusion called out the double standards at the treatment of Africa tournaments in comparison to UEFA/FIFA tournaments.
“The disrespect to Africans and it football tournaments, they don’t rate any of them at all. “We have seen so many tournaments Fifa and UEFA already introduced in world football, but when it comes to Africa and Africans, it’s always a different case.”- John Ogu concluded.
The Nigerian midfielder has made 25 appearances for Nigeria after his debut in March 2013 and has one goal to his name.
