Nigeria Retirement May Affect Moses' Chelsea Career

Posted by George on Thu 16th Aug, 2018 - tori.ng

The 27-year-old brought his international career to an abrupt end on Wednesday, six years after he made his bow against Rwanda.

Victor Moses

Former Nigeria captain and coach Henry Nwosu calls Victor Moses' retirement from international football as an unwise decision that could come back to haunt him at club level.

On Wednesday, the Chelsea player called time on his career with the Super Eagles in order to shift his focus to club and family commitments .

The 27-year-old has been reduced to a squad player since the arrival of new coach Maurizio Sarri.

The Italian has switched from Antonio Conte's 3-5-2 formation to his trusted 4-3-3, thus, rendering Moses' wing-back role irrelevant.

According to Nwosu, the winger's decision might further have a negative impact on his standing at the London outfit.

"I don't think it's a wise decision because he is still very young. He needs to play for Nigeria to be more recognised at his club because Nigeria is a big name in football,” Nwosu told Goal .

"It might make him lose his place in his club, they may look at him as a player who is not playing in the national team so he doesn't deserve regular playing time.

"For your club, that's the most important thing because the more you are playing for your club, the better for the national team.

“Club competitions are different from national competitions but you need both to compete at top level. I'm surprised that he has retired now.”

On whether the former Wigan winger’s decision will leave a gap in Gernot Rohr’s team, the 55-year-old says: "We have so many players playing in the midfield that are as good as Moses.

“I don't think we have that gap in the team but being the person he is and the way he plays, I think he is very important in that team and we should try to persuade to have a rethink.

"I hope he has a rethink and change that idea because it's not wise.”

Moses featured for Nigeria in two World Cup tournaments [Brazil 2014 and Russia 2018] and was part of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winning squad.