Obafemi out of Austria, S/Africa games

Saliu Gbadamosi - 24.04.2008

SUPER Eagles head coach, Amodu Shaibu may have to start considering his attack option as he fully take charge of the team in the international friendly tie against Austria as Newcastle United striker, Obafemi Martins has opted out of the match and the 2010 World Cup qualifier against the Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

The Eagles are scheduled to meet Austria on May 27 in Vienna, while the South African game comes up June 1 in Abuja.

The Sun newspaper of London reported that the Magpies striker had told the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) he might have to miss the Eagles’ end-of-season international dates because of niggling knee and ankle injuries.

A source at the NFA's Glass House secretariat in Abuja, however, told Tribunesports that he was not aware of the player's decision to miss the matches, saying that, "I don't know anything like that."

In another development, the Nigerian striker has admited life at St James’ Park is different under manager Kevin Keegan when compared with his former gaffer Sam Allardyce.

Recalling when he burst into tears at being substituted against Birmingham City earlier this season, the Nigerian international told The Observer: "After five minutes we were talking and laughing.

"He said to me, 'Oba, if you do that again you're gonna pay a fine.' And I said to him, 'If you do that kind of thing again [substitute me], you're gonna pay a fine too.' So we started laughing about it."