Watford striker, Dennis seems to be paying the price for missing AFCON, as he has been left out of the team to face Ghana in the World Cup qualifier
By Kehinde Okeowo
Premier League striker, Emmanuel Dennis will likely be missing when the Super Eagles Nigeria clash with West African neighbour and arch rival, Ghana for a place in Qatar 2022 in March.
Eagles interim coach Austine Eguavoen has commenced work on the list of players he intends to invite for the encounter but the 24-year-old Dennis has been excluded.
According to OwnGoalNigeria.com, Eguavon has been saddled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to prosecute the World Cup playoff against Ghana, after talks with Jose Peseiro brokedown.
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The Portuguese coach was hired shortly before the beginning of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon and was expected to take over from Eguavoen, but talks appear to have broken down over certain clauses in his contract.
The NFF has now turned to Eguavoen who has decided to keep 95% of the players who played at the AFCON, where Nigeria were ousted at the round of 16 after losing 0-1 to the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.
While Dennis will be omitted from the list, three players will be making a comeback after injury, they are Victor Osimhen, Leon Balogun and Oghenekaro Etebo but their inclusion would likely cost Olisa Ndah, Peter Olayinka, and Henry Onyekuru their places.
Sources at NFF said Watford’s inform striker will be overlooked for the playoff but is likely to be invited if the team qualifies for the World Cup depending on his form.
A member of the backroom staff of the Austine Eguavoen led the team also said Dennis was left out of the squad owing to his decision to shun an invitation to be a part of the team for the AFCON.