I Will Play for Germany, Not Nigeria, Sidney Sam Says

By Arinze Ude

Sidney Sam has refuted claims that he was interested and eager to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria. The former Germany youth player had been pencilled down as one of the country’s representatives at the Confederations Cup in June pending his clearance from FIFA but the Bayer Leverkusen winger has claimed he never wanted to represent Nigeria after he was called up by German coach, Joachim Low for the upcoming friendlies against Ecuador and United States. Sam in an interview with German sports agency SID said: “The 2014 World Cup is still far away but for me it is only Germany that counts. We don’t have to speak about Nigeria. “I never really thought about Nigeria and I do not know who invented that. I always wanted to play for Germany and I know I was on the coach’s list. It is a pity, I was often injured but now I am here and want to prove my strengths.” Sam’s comments irked the Nigeria Football Federation thus they labelled the player “disrespectful.” NFF spokesman Ademola Olajire in an interview with BBC Sport said: “It’s disappointing, disrespectful and not correct. If he’s not interested, he’s not interested and no-one is going to beg him to play for Nigeria. But to say he was never contacted is false and ridiculous. At the appropriate time we will give more details.”

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This article was first published on 30th May 2013

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