Nigeria were losing finalists at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and finished in third place in 2025, but missed out on qualifying for the World Cup for a second successive time, last competing in Russia in 2018 where they failed to make it out of the group stage.
Odemwingie played over 50 times for his country and at three AFCON finals and two World Cups.
Speaking to Brila FM, called on a more selective approach to calling up players.
"I have watched interviews of players who said, 'I was born here, raised here; I feel British.' As for me, I had age one to seven in Nigeria, so I went to primary school in Nigeria," he said.
"I went to my village with my dad and met my granddad; I had some connections with Nigeria from early childhood. Then we went to Russia and returned at 17, played five years in Nigeria before I went to Europe to play football."
"These days, it’s like they want the pampering. Me as you know, I don’t need no pampering. If Naija pampers me, it’s more than enough for me," Odemwingie added.
