Odemwingie is a loose cannon, says coach Siasia

Lagos

Nigeria and West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie has been labelled a “loose cannon” and urged to “calm down” by ex-Super Eagles coach Samson Siasia.

The 31-year-old missed his country’s Africa Cup of Nations success after falling out with coach Stephen Keshi. Siasia, who worked with Odemwingie at international level, said it was the right decision.

“He’s a loose cannon,” said Siasia. “I wouldn’t invite Odemwingie to the national team if I was the head coach.” Siasia, who was in charge of the senior Nigeria team from 2010 to 2011, added: “We need players that will steer the upcoming ones in the right path and act as role models. If he does not do that, he will only end up destroying the team.”

At his club, Odemwingie has slowly worked his way back into the plans of manager Steve Clarke after failing with a bid to engineer himself a move to QPR on transfer deadline day.

But Siasia, coached the Nigeria Under-23s to a silver medal in the 2008 Olympics where Odemwingie was the overage player, still has his doubts about the striker.

“He needs to calm down and understand he now has a wife and a kid who look up to him as an example,” he said. “I pray he matures quickly because Nigerians will want to see him back in the national team.”

Elsewhere, German-based manufacturer GoalControl is set to provide goal-line technology (GLT) at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

GoalControl will be used at this year’s Confederations Cup in Brazil and will be used a year later, provided the performance reaches the requirements.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter pushed for technology after Frank Lampard’s goal was ruled out in England’s 4-1 defeat by Germany in the 2010 World Cup. British-based Hawk-Eye was one of four firms that had bid for the tender.

Final decision

Fifa said in a statement: “The final decision was based on criteria relating more specifically to the tournaments in Brazil, including the company’s ability to adapt to local conditions and the compatibility of each GLT system.” The Football Association and Premier League are understood to be in talks with the four licensed providers - GoalControl, Hawk-Eye, Goalref and CAIROS.

A decision could come as early as this month over who will win the contract to provide a system for all 20 Premier League grounds and Wembley. Goalcontrol uses 14 high-speed cameras around the pitch as part of its GoalControl-4D system.

A Hawk-Eye statement said: “Sport teaches us many lessons, including accepting defeat graciously and having confidence in your ability to bounce back strongly. BBC Sport