Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh has expressed surprise at the recent decision by experienced Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike to retire from international football.

The Al Ain star's action followed reports in Nigeria that Oliseh considered him a surplus to requirements in the team following his two-year long international goal draught.

However the Super Eagles boss, who said he had tried to reach out to the player without success since the news about his retirement broke, insisted Emenike was part of his plans.

"When I first heard about it I made a phone call to Emenike to clarify the situation but there was no answer," Oliseh told BBC Sport.

"It's shocking and surprising because we've worked together in my first four matches as Super Eagles coach. He is part of our rebuilding process and I did not see signs of misunderstanding or issues working with a great player like Emenike."

Oliseh rubbished the reports about axing Emenike for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Swaziland, saying it was all fabricated.

"It's a figment of someone's imagination because it did not come from me," the 1998 World Cup star (below, pictured) stressed.

"I've not spoken to any journalist about my squad or the World Cup game that will only take place in November.

"My coaches and I have been fully focused on the CHAN qualifier (against Burkina Faso), so I don't know where they got that [plans to axe Emenike] information from."

NFF in the dark

Meanwhile the Nigeria Football Federation has also said that it has not received any official correspondence from the player about his retirement.

"The NFF has yet to receive any official notification of retirement from Emenike. He didn\'t inform us about his decision before going to the social media to announce it," NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire told The Punch.

Emenike is the second top player to retire from the Super Eagles this month, following the decision by former skipper and first choice goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to hang his international gloves after a public spat with Oliseh.

Will be missed

Former Super Eagles midfield star Friday Ekpo believes the player, who won 37 caps and scored nine goals in his five-year international career, will be missed as the team is being rebuilt and the younger players would have benefitted from his experience.

"Emenike's retirement is coming at the wrong time. Since he has expressed it and he has given us reasons for doing so, I wish him the best of luck in his endeavors," Ekpo said.

"The Eagles will miss his experience. The team we have now is made up of new players who will need to learn from an experienced player like Emenike. When senior players leave a team, the younger ones find it difficult to learn. This may later affect the team."

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