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          Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike retires from international football

          • Colin Udoh, Special to ESPNOct 20, 2015, 08:31 AM ET
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              Itinerant writer. Engineer in a previous incarnation. One time Black Belt. Lover of football, flirter with other sports.
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          Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike has announced his retirement from international football.

          Emenike, 28, wrote on his Instagram account on Monday night that he was calling time on representing Nigeria.

          "After five great years I am happy to announce that I have put full-stop to my national team career for the sake of national peace," the Al Ain forward said.

          Emenike: No more Eagles career! "After 5 great years, I am happy to announce that I have put full-stop to my Nationa team career for the sake of national peace." "Its a pleasure for me to have played for this great country. I never regretted it and I think its the best time to end it. Millions thanks to all the fans who have been very supportive during the good and bad times." "I am very proud of my performance, I am proud of my team mates and I am very proud of the nation called 'Nigeria'. My AFCON gold medal is a sign of great achievement, My AFCON topscorer award speaks a lot about my commitment and dedication to the team. Super Eagles is a camp not a family house, and it shouldn't be a threat zone for any individual. I have done according to our national anthem. "All my dreams came true in the national team, I dreamt to win Nations Cup for Nigeria after 20-years, I dreamt to played at the World Cup as well as to make a name for myself... In the space of five years, I got them. I'm a winner! "For every dissapointing fans, maybe due to my inability to re-establish my goal scoring instinct for Super Eagles, I will like to say I'm sorry but the ones I had scored counted well for the team. As long as Nigeria remains, you and I will always remember the name 'Emenike'. "Finally, I am happy to make a bow and continue supporting the team everytime. Up Eagles, God Bless Nigeria!

          A photo posted by Emmanuel Emenike (@chiboy_ee29) on

          "It's a pleasure for me to have played for this great country. I never regretted it and I think it's the best time to end it."

          Emenike was top scorer as Nigeria won the Africa Nations Cup in 2013, but he has not scored for the country since netting against Ethiopia during qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup.

          It was reported in Nigeria on Monday that he was due to be axed from the squad by coach Sunday Oliseh, but the manager told ESPN FC there was no truth to the story.

          He said: "I don't know where they got that information from, as my coaches and I had not even discussed the coming squad yet.

          He said: "Our focus for now has been on the CHAN qualifiers against Burkina Faso. It is only after that is out of the way that we planned to decide on the squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Swaziland."

          Emenike, who has scored nine times in 37 appearances for Nigeria, becomes the second player to retire from the national team this month, following in the footsteps of goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.