Nigeria national team coach denies rift with Emenike [divider]

Nigerian national team coach Stephen Keshi has denied having a problem with Emmanuel Emenike.

“It has been brought to my notice that some persons are saying I and Emmanuel Emenike are not on speaking terms. It makes me laugh because I don’t even understand why anyone would say anything like that,” Keshi told supersport.com.

“It is simply not true. Emenike is like my son. I gave him a chance to play for the national team and will never stop encouraging him.

“Even in my days as an active professional, I encountered similar situations with great strikers not scoring for some time.

“It’s a normal thing and all the player needs to do at that time is to keep his concentration and continue working hard.

“The goals will come for Emma but what is most important to me is that he has been working very hard for this team.”

Keshi and Emenike were reported to have had a rift after the Fenerbahçe striker was dropped from the starting XI during Nigeria’s game against Congo in Calabar.

Emenike has two goals and one assist for Fenerbahçe this season.