Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh is shocked over the sudden decision of key player Emmanuel Emenike to retire from the Super Eagles and says he has not been officially informed of the decision by the striker.
The UAE-based attacker slapped his retirement decision on the internet on Tuesday without any provocation.
The 28-year-old, who plays for Al Ain of Dubai, has not scored for the Super Eagles since October 2013 and it was speculated he would be axed by Oliseh for the 2018 World Cup qualifier for not scoring for the Super Eagles.
However the Nigeria denies he was on the verge of axing the striker insisting for poor performance.
"It was a big shocker for us and a big shocker for me personally. And personally, I still don't accept that he (Emenike) has retired because, officially, I have not heard anything from him, and I don't think the federation have heard anything from him, only what we've seen is what is pasted on social media," Oliseh said on Brila FM.
"He has been part of our building process, and in fact, he has had more playing time than any other striker that we've had. So I am very surprised that he has retired.
"If five per cent of what we hear on social media about coach Sunday Oliseh is true, that means I will be giving interviews everyday.
"At the moment, we have not made a list of anybody we are going to invite for the next World Cup qualifier as we are only focused on getting our country to qualify for CHAN.
"And I am still struggling with my health, so where have I had the time to make a team or drop Emmanuel? That is totally, once again, false," Oliseh reiterated.
Emenike is the second player to announce his retirement from Nigeria's senior squad this month, following Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama - Nigeria's most-capped player - who quit after a much publicised row with coach Sunday Oliseh.
Oliseh was reportedly considering leaving out Emenike for next month's World Cup qualifier against Swaziland because he has not scored at international level for two years.
The former Spartak Moscow player, at Al Ain on loan from Turkish side Fenerbahce, has, however, featured in the first four matches since Oliseh took over from Steven Keshi.
Emenike made his international debut in a friendly against Sierra Leone in Lagos in February 2011 and was top scorer at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, helping Nigeria lift the trophy.
He made 37 appearance for the Super Eagles and score nine goals.