Emmanuel Dennis was among the four Super Eagles players that could not make it to AFCON after his club refused to let him go. Eguavoen recent claims and Ranieri response when quizzed on the matter shed more light on the issue, and exonerate the 24-year old.
Emmanuel Dennis earned his call up to the super eagles after an impressive start to the 2021/2022 premier league season scoring 8 goals in 17 appearances and providing 6 assists.
Such an in-form striker would make a difference for the Super Eagles at Afcon.
Even though he tried his possible best to make it to Afcon after being listed on the Nigeria Afcon squad list, the club made it impossible for him to join the super eagles according to a claim by the interim coach, Augustine Eguavoen.
The Nigeria interim gaffer claims Dennis was “threatened” by Watford not to join the super eagles. This news clear the air and exonerate Dennis who some believed he did little or nothing to persuade Watford to release him.
Eguavoen speaking to NFF TV:
“Dennis told me that his club had done everything humanly possible for him not be at Afcon,”
That claim shows that Dennis was not comfortable with the situation. He took the bull by the horn, but there is little he could do as a player.
After Emmanuel Dennis was confirmed unavailable for Afcon, Eguavoen said he informed Henry Onyekuru is replacing Dennis at the tournament and he was pleased about the news.
“We have to play with what we have. Based on that, I like the enthusiasm because I only informed Onyekuru once and he was happy about it.”
He added:
“Initially, he has been an integral part of this team and I felt bad that some of them wouldn’t be around, but decisions have to be made. Onuachu, Onyekuru, Ebuehi, and few other ones and as soon as that opening was there, Omonia’s Shehu Abdullahi also said that the report came out that he’s been injured and he’s going to be out for 10 days to two weeks and we reached out to Tyronne and he was happy too.”
Watford manager, Ranieri when commenting on the matter said Watford did not disrespect Nigeria Football Federation. That is contrast to what NFF said earlier this week that the club was “Baring their fangs” over the issue.
He told the club’s website:
“I knew they were speaking, the board and the Nigerian board, and I accept every decision they find and for me, it’s finished.”
“We respect everybody. They have many players and they have changed the manager and we were ready to give them the players, but they didn’t do this. The two boards spoke and for me it’s okay. I am only the manager, the coach, and I accept everything.”
Dennis will now available to play against Leicester city in the FA cup 3rd round, and EPL matches against Newcastle, Norwich city and West Ham as they try to move up the table from the current 17th position.
