Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, at the twilight of his reign as national team coach invited the former Newcastle of England striker but he was not convincing after two matches and that rested the clamour for Martins’ call. Almost two years after his last call, ahead of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier game against Swaziland, Super Eagles Chief coach, Sunday Oliseh had surprisingly invited the 30 year old striker. Kunle Adewale in this report asks if Martins’ inclusion is a justification of the dwindling state of the senior national team or that indeed, he is bringing added value to the team?
Martins himself admitted that he was shocked on his recall to the Super Eagles. Reacting to his recent recall to the national team after two years absence, Martins revealed it was a bit of shock after he got coach Oliseh’s invite.
“It was a bit of a shock, but a nice shock. I’m very happy; because I have always worked hard, supported and respected all the players picked by the coaches. I thank coach Oliseh for this great opportunity. I’m just looking forward to going out there and playing for Nigeria again,” he told BBC Sports.
He was a part of the Nigerian team that finished third in the 2006 African Cup of Nations scoring scored two goals in the competition, both coming against Senegal in the first round.
His future for the national team has been placed in doubt on numerous occasions after separate incidents of controversy. In August 2006, the (NFA) website had his date of birth down as May1 1978, which would have made him 28 years of age rather than 21. The NFA soon confirmed that it had been an administrative error and apologised for the confusion it had caused. However Martins threatened to quit playing for the national team after the blunder had initially put his move to Newcastle in doubt.
