Wolfsburg striker, Obafemi Martins will be given the cold shoulder by Nigeria Coach Lars Lagerback at his debut World Cup unless he has a change of attitude, officials have disclosed.
Lagerback has been far from impressed with the attitude of Martins in training and came close to dropping him from the World Cup, but for the injury of Victor Anichebe.
“Martins would have been dropped for Anichebe because Lagerback complained about his attitude. Others pulled their weight in training, but the Wolfsburg striker was not bothered,” a top team official revealed.
“Contrary to what Everton are now saying, Anichebe is nursing a cracked shin and will be out of action for at least three weeks.
The Eagles fitness trainer detected this. That was why Lagerback dropped him from the squad to the World Cup. Were he fit, he would have been taken to South Africa ahead of Martins.
“Lagerback starred the names of both Martins and Anichebe on his list and his explanation was that he has been far from happy with Martins attitude to training. He told the NFF leadership that Martins attitude is “very bad” and except he changes, he will not be in his plans for the World Cup.”
It is understood that much-criticised Everton striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Obinna Nsofor of Spanish club Malaga are now ahead of Martins in the pecking order to lead the Nigeria attack at the World Cup.
Last November, “Obagoal” struck twice as Nigeria booked their ticket to the 2010 World Cup in dramatic fashion on the final day of qualifying action against Kenya in Nairobi.
The 25-year-old former Newcastle United star striker, who made a goal-scoring debut against the Republic of Ireland in May 2004, posted a subdued performance at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola earlier this year after he was a controversial choice ahead of Esperance striker, Michael Eneramo for the championship.
Keen watchers of the Eagles say Martins appears not to have completely shaken off a serious shin injury that needed operation late last year. Martins has scored 16 goals in 31 appearances for Nigeria, averaging a goal every other game. South Africa 2010 will be his World Cup debut after the Eagles failed to fly to the 2006 edition in Germany.
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