Albion striker Peter Odemwingie has urged Nigeria’s football authorities to thrash out a deal that would end the country’s suspension from the international game.

The Baggies forward’s international career is on hold after FIFA hit Nigeria with an indefinite suspension for alleged government interference in the football federation.

But Odemwingie is hopeful an agreement can be reached allowing him to add to his 49 caps and nine goals.

He said: “I hope it will be settled. All I can do is hope.

“The good thing is that the president, the ministry of sport and everyone care about Nigerian football and they are trying to change things and make it better. Looking on the positive side. they care.

“The results we’re getting aren’t satisfying the country now so they are trying to bring changes to the team.

“There is some opposition and lots of people who think they have the right ideas for the future and that’s where the problem lies.

“But the most important thing is to come to an agreement, because the goal has to be to improve results and improve football in Nigeria.

“They should all put their heads together to make things better.”

Odemwingie was born to a Russian mother and Nigerian father but gained the chance to represent his father’s homeland as a teenager, when he was living in Africa having been raised in the Soviet Union.

The 29-year-old figured for Nigeria at this summer’s World Cup, which was followed by FIFA’s suspension after the country’s government allegedly tried to take charge of an overhaul of the national team following a disappointing performance in South Africa.

That is against strict FIFA rules but Odemwingie understands the government’s desire to get involved.

He said: “Most of the sponsorship comes from the government and they want to know where their money is going. I think that is normal.

“I don’t think FIFA know everything they need to know, which is a problem. FIFA cannot know the details because they are not there.

“They can only hear from distance what is happen, but I believe they will get more information and make a proper decision to get things right.”