Former Super Eagles striker Emmanuel Emenike has attributed his early retirement from the national team to media criticism.

Emenike, a key player in Nigeria’s victorious 2013 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, retired from international football at the age of 28.

Despite his contributions, including scoring four goals and assisting one in five games to secure the 2013 AFCON golden boot, Emenike left the national team just two years after the triumph in South Africa.

His departure followed a reported fallout with the Nigeria Football Federation and relentless media scrutiny over his dip in form.

In a recent social media post, Emenike expressed his dismay at the negative media coverage he received.

“I was respectful, humble, and gave everything for Naija (Nigeria) but you can never satisfy everyone,” he wrote.

“Journalists did so much damage. I was never loved, and I know this because of the things they put out about me. The love for my country was my driving force.”

Emenike, who also missed the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup due to injury but returned for the 2014 World Cup, concluded his football career in 2019.