Photo by Daniel Beloumou Olomo
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Nigeria’s interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen has slammed Super Eagles players Odion Ighalo and Emmanuel Dennis after both players pulled out of the Nigerian squad to the 33rd edition of the Africa Cup of Nations holding in Cameroon.
Both players had initially been named on the Super Eagles 28-man squad to represent Nigeria at the bi-annual competition but had to be dropped from the team following a tussle with their clubsides for their release.
Watford who Emmanuel Dennis has been outstanding for this season in the English premier league insisted the call up letter from the Nigeria Football Federation for Dennis came very late and therefore they wouldn’t be releasing the Nigerian international for the tournament.
Al Shabbab of Saudi Arabia also shared similar sentiments towards the release of Ighalo which prompted the 2019 AFCON top scorer to miss out on the competition according to Sporting Life.
However Complete Sports reports Eguavoen has now criticized both players for not showing enough commitment to want to represent Nigeria.
It’s over now, we have to face the truth, no one cares about excuses. We must respect people’s opinions, but there are rules about laying off players. It is due to the player’s desire individually first, and who must fight to play for the national team.
“We were fighting similar battles during our playing days, and we were fighting to play for the national team because it is an honor. “Everyone has the same goal, whether it is the football federation, the fans, or the players.”
The Super Eagles will face the Pharaohs of Egypt in their opening game of the 2021 AFCON finals at the Stade Roumde Adjia, Garoua on Tuesday January 11.
