Watford manager Claudio Ranieri has denied insulting Nigeria Football Federation by blocking Emmanuel Dennis from playing at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
Dennis has been replaced in the squad by Slavia Prague’s Peter Olayinka in a major boost for Watford, who are battling to escape the drop from the Premier League.
”I knew they were speaking, the Watford board and Nigeria board and I accept every decision they’re fine and that for me is finished,” Ranieri told a press conference on Friday.
Read Also: Akpeyi Arrives Super Eagles AFCON Camp
“No [we have not insulted AFCON]. We respect everybody. They have a lot of players and they changed the manager then changed everything.
“We were ready to give them players. They didn’t do this and the two boards spoke and for me it’s ok. I am only the manager, the coach and I accept everything.”
The 24-year-old has scored eight goals and recorded five assists in 17 league appearances for the Hornets this season.
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COMMENTS
They changed the manager and they changed everything” Can someone smell something there? I know It wasn’t the club, it was the player and also the lackadaisical approach from the NFA.
Makes no sense Rohr always overlooked him so what is your point?. @tayo
We need Denise at the Afcon full stop.
With all this nonsense foot on, which squad are we now going to the nations cup with, if care is not taking, I see failure for the super eagles
It was Denis himself that opted out of the nation cup probably when the his club official persuaded him that the club needed him more than his country. All this is possible because we have a senseless NFF . God please help this Nation the ridicule and the disrespect from outsiders are just too many. I also want to believe that Victor decision not play for us at the nation cup was set up between the player , club and NFF.
Let any player that will be happy to represent us be given the chance . This Denise might not make the World Cup team let me be quoted , i recall IGHALO first season for Watford was also fantastic and after that he went into oblivion i pray Denise own will not follow such. Amen
The guy is just not patriotic at all,we all saw how VO drag NAPOLI to the last, he shd just stay glue to his watford that’s doom for relegation and forget playing for the SE forever. The country is bad but a reasonable somebody will at least look at those clamoring for your inclusion and your fans, personally I’m not watching there match no more except I see etebo or ekong in the lineup.
That will be the SE that has snubbed him even when he was in form for players playing in strange leagues. Even this one that they called him, Ighalo and musa will still play ahead of him. Watford needs him more than the circus that is NFF. Dessers that was scoring goals where is he now? Yet onyekuru with 0 goals 0 assist in unfancied Greek league makes the team ahead of Dessers. He made an excellent decision.
Dennis never opted out rather ge was happy to represent his country. Some of you accused him of demanding for automatic shirt it is quite shameful and dissapointed.
Watford is simply capitalizing on NFF effectiveness to hold on to their key man.
The likes of onyekure and Ebuehi that were called up late to replace them might be released by their clubsides simply because they probably wants them to shine at afcon which helps their stocks to rise so they make money from them unlike Watford that needs their star man to keep them in the epl
The expectations of watford isn’t the same as Olympiacous and Venezia
Put the blame sorely on NFF not Dennis! His hands are tied in this situation. He cannot force a move to afcon when the case is on Watford side
If anyone claims the late emailed invitation to watford is a scam let him challenge his nff to screen shot the mail to the public. Every mail comes with date and time sent
If actually it was sent on time, we’ll see it and nff will defeat them at the court of arbitration for sports but if it was sent late,forget it!
We really need to be objective in our analysis. Even players that are better than Dennis are not asking for automatic starting 11 shirt. No matter what he thinks of himself he is not better than Osimhen. And I have never seen Osimhen asking for an automatic shirt. Can he ask his manager in Watford for an automatic shirt? The guy has a serious disciplinary issue. We dont need his wahala at all. And to think this particular guy is one of the major reasons why some people were crucifying Rohr is just unimaginable.
Another clear hypocrisy is that Rohr was the only one being insulted on his exclusion while Rohr was the coach. Now I expect only Egu to be criticized this time around by the same people who were vilifying Rohr. But we are beginning to see some modifications in the blame game. It is now NFF, Rohr and Egu. This is just the beginning for all the hypocrites on this forum. Much more drama is ahead. Rohr was never our main problem. NFF, Dare, and some other corrupt Nigerians have always been our major problem.
Whatever old man, write it down, you relegating las las, etebo and my dear ekong moving into another epl team. So shall it be.
Watford will not be relegated you guys are the ones not being objective you want NFF and the coach to bench him for their selfish reason so that he will looses is hard earned Value. Una talk well how many players are in hot form as Dennis. He knows is worth I don’t think anyone can bench him except Osihmen. We all know how the coaches talk about Osihmen when was the last time they openly say great things about Dennis. You people have a problem dealing with Objectiveness most especially when the people know their worth.
What you talking about MR? So for your mind eguavoen will bench Dennis? For who, you are the one not been objective here ok, mighty Messi and CR7 will never ask for authomatic shirt, let his leg do the talking, and how on earth you comparing him to VO? You are funny man.
What happened when he was invited for Sierra Leone’s match? How many minutes was he given??
Don’t mind @ Femi, this corrupt bunch of people. 100% Musa and Ighalo starts ahead of him and people are saying he is not patriotic when the organisation does not show fairness. Or is it not the same bench that picked ajayi ahead of Akpoguma. Very funny expecting patriotism in an unfair system.
Chima this is definitely below below standard. Common you fall my hands with this comment..who is Dennis to ask for automatic shirt. He is playing for ordinary Watford and he is already raising shoulder..his career can’t go beyond Watford.
We told them that sacking a coach few weeks before a major tournament will have a bad impact on the team but they didn’t listen.
Nothing to talk again, we dey here dey wait for the karma of NFF action and inaction.
I see this Dennis as a serious trouble maker. Going to AFCON and not being regularly featured may provoke him to make trouble, thinking he has arrived now. His coach at Brugge lamented about his of the field conduct. The at Cologne said the same thing. It’s very likely same thing may happen at Watford when they start benching. I have a feeling that his absence is a blessing to the team. After all, we have a lot of very good players in the area he plays. let it not be like AFCON 2004, when 3 players were decamped because of Indiscipline. We should focus on what we have and make most it. And it’s true that he chose Watford over Nigeria, then he should not come near that team if we make the world cup no matter what he does at Watford. He’s so obsessed with his club. And I hope that gives him all the prestige he needs in football.
You will be surprise that all this paparazzi about receiving late cup mail scam las las, I sense the guy initiate all that with his club, imagine no fight no nothing from him. If any coach extend invitation to this guy in future. Well till then.
Pardon my typo error jare, meant late call up paparazzi might be all scam and arrangee
You guys are blaming players, did you guys realize what must have happen in the background.
I still strongly belive that this would have been avoided if and only if NFF alow rohr go to afcon.
I believe rohr must have reached certain level of agreement with club officials as per players and with individual players as per how he will use them.
You changed coach at eve of a major event, then changed every plans the man must had with players on how he to use them.
Rohr hinted that some players wanted to leave immediately he was sack and nobody take that serious.
Am not a die hard fan of rohr but let us face it NFF blew it all away.
It is Denis today, tomorrow it could be any other player so long this level insincerity continue.
Like we the first to change coach abi? You guys better move on from this Rorh wahala.
I’d assume this guy was misquoted because it would be foolhardy of him to begin to demand for an automatic first team shirt after all the rave reviews he has enjoyed over the last couple of months on account of his blistering form in front of goal.
From another perspective, it’s a case of a player who’s pitched between club and country and decided on which one takes precedent over other and has decided to go for his club in their relegation battle. One guess he has weighed his options well and decided accordingly.
He was never in the plans of Rhor and suddenly he becomes watfords main man and Nigeria wants him?…..That is why Ranieri pointed out that Nigeria changed coach and the decisions where sudden……To be sincere I really feel sorry for Watford because it will be so painful if your main striker and best hope of survival is sitting on Nigeria’s bench far away in Africa and you are sinking in the deep waters of relegation……..I don’t trust Nigerian coaches because Dennis being out of SE since was not only Rhor’s decision and removing Rhor does not guarantee him a starters shirt in SE…… Dennis was only invited to avoid backlash and to paint Rhor as the vilian but when the tournament starts they will bench him well…….So its better he stays where he will be more useful.
The guy may have read meanings to all the rubish going on from rohr to egu and from egu to piesserio or whatever.
Some players can’t tolerate insincerity and disorganization at all. The moment you start manipulating things you will just piss them off.
We have read in the past how players accused either coach or nff official of demanding bribe before they could be invited.
Who knows whether this Dennis has been approcah to settle if he wants to see action at all.
It is not just enough for us to blame players alone.
This NFF together with this present techinacl crew stinks abeg.
Haaaa se confusion everywhere.
You hurriedly hired a foreign coach to go to afcon and observe and if the team perform badly in their first game you will just from there sack egu and ask the man to takeover immediately.
What kind of joke is that, why don’t you Wait and let rohr leave after afcon.
I am surprised some people are giving excuses’ for Dennis.
Great legends of the game in Nigeria have sat on the bench. Yekinini was sitting on the bench for siasia prio to maroc 88. Okocha was being benched by westehof at early super eagles years. Siaisa etc enjoyed the bench and they were proud. What about ikpeba at tunisai 94. What makes Dennis feel he would be a great hit with Nigeria.
The guy needs help. Serious help..he is even playing for Watford that is destined for relegation.
Yes he is playing for Watford but made team of half season in the EPL outshining Mane of Liverpool and Sterling of Man City, I believe Egypt or Algeria will not tell their inform players to come and fight for shirt which we know what it means and come out to hail say tomorrow that we should give Ighalo time. How many times have our coaches sing high praise of Dennis? All they say is the negative things they fell to say about him because he is outcome and straight forward. Nigerians have a one way sense of judgement it’s too primitive and Dennis doesn’t fall into the sense of your reasonings that is the fact why you all can not align.
It is not about making a case for one player or the other the point is the present NFF officials stinks.
So player should not be completely crucify.
Was Yekinni being bench by an inferior player or player that has lost form?
For instance you bench Dennis because musa must play.
You bench or left out other young and versertile striker because ighalo is back.
All these will only amount to discouragement and lack of trust. Some players can tolerate this.
So you believe akpoguma is not good and that is why he is being left out.
@ Christian ministry stop using NFF of those days to compare what we have now.
What we have now is an embodiment of corruption.
How they(NFF) can quickly come to media to defend themselves and twist issue altogether to cajole people baffels me.
Let us wait and hear what NFF will say as per dennis the whole matter.
Let everyone go and rest! The last regime Emmanuel Dennis was never considered much for callups and all of a sudden his performaces can no longer be ignored in EPL and he has become the toast of Nigerians and NFF.
If Watford gets relegated tomorrow they will close his chapter and move on again from his case and find a soft reason to stop inviting him and callup other players in his place. The young man is wise not to have forgotten how he was labeled a troublesome player months back with his career evidently hanging by thin threads.
Watford need him… and he could go to Nations Cup and be stamped permanently on the bench through a period that his club surviving the drop will be his only chance of staying relevant. Now we should interrogate the reason why Ekongs invite was sent early but his own very late…
Players have become wise to know that the authorities only sing their praises when they stay conspicuous through their club performances and the moemnet they have a dip in form they are discarded… Everyone fuming about his not gracing the tournament should go and sleep. The dude took a wise decision to fight for his career and future.
Whats the guarantee he won’t sit on the bench throughout the tournament for an Onyekuru, Musa or Ejuke? Some of lik le to just talk sentimentally. NFF is even still owing the players backlogs of unpaid bonuses! Make we free Dennis joor… If he is not there as well as Victor Osimhen, then we should just go and continue with finding solutions to our banditry and bokoharam problems…
…to add. If Nigeria can’t play football without Osimhen and Dennis then we should go and continue facing more serious issues like finding solution to our banditry and bokoharam problems…
Or we must fail with our own
Hmmmm…very deep!!!
“they changed the manager then changed everything”.
Lol see how how we are being rubbished internationally. “THEY CHANGE THE COACH AND EVERYTHING CHANGED” This is deep.
Did Renieri and Dennis change their mind because they change the coach?
Truely speaking if some players in that squad want to tell you their mind, they would have wish this AFCON was no more. A lot is happening at the background more than the confusion we are even seeing on media space.
“They changed the coach and everything changed” This statement looks more spiritual than physical. I just pray everything doesn’t change back to SE ranking 70 again in the world. I just pray things doesn’t change back to SE struggling to qualify for tournaments. The prayers goes on and on.
Where is our U17 U20 U23 and CHAN team? Who is to blame for this deterioration. Is it ROHR?
Person wey dey arrogant dey arrogant. There is nothing you can do about it or no two ways about it. And an arrongant player its really bad for the team. So y’all should stop blaming GENERAL ROHR for Dennis issue..if he doesn’t want to play for his country tell him to go f*ck himself..its a dream and honor to play for your country. Even if you are given 5minutes to play for your country, or you will be coming from the bench, see it as a privilege and value it well.. The country is bigger than anybody.
@Marvelous you notice that part of Ranieri’s statement too abi? Its so unfortunate that there are no enuf intelligent minds to notice that apart from we both.
Some forumites, their own is just to rant without reading between the lines(deep).. calling Rohr’s name anyhow.
Dennis the menace is not our problem.
Ranieri is not our problem.
Rohr was never our problem.
OUR PROBLEM IS NFF ONIGBESE.
So you know Nigeria can play without Dennis then why are you always crucifying the former coach for not inviting him? Everyone has seen now that the guy is not even committed to play for Nigeria. Of course Nigeria can play and will play without him nobody care if he is in the team or not,you guys are the one who made him a messiah suddenly.
AMAJU MELVIN PINNICK OUT!
SHEHU DIKKO OUT!
To hell with dennis with his demand for playing time. Are the other players coming there to sell moi moi. Well am not a huge fan of his anyways. What are the chances he will get there and mess up. Well its too late to be crying over spilled milk. Lets make do with what we have. My fear is some of this players sabotaging this tournament for several reasons. This whole nonsense is not even allowing someone to look forward to the tournament itself
@Kenneth why do you now fear that some players may sabotage the event?
So many reasons. That rorh was rubbished out of the national team and some believing its the hand work of eguavoen . there could be some sect that will not play to par. More so all there allowances are outstanding. With that has issue will not even motivate some to play.
Emmanuel Dennis clearly does not want to be at Afcon. I am glad he is not there if that’s the case. Nobody wants a half hearted team mate trust me. Goodluck in his Watford career. Let Umar Sadique or Awoniyi rise to the occasion.
This excerpt from the Watford Observer is the real reason Dennis won’t be at the AFCON. Less to do with a “late call-up”.
“The exact reason for the club being able to do prevent him from attending is not entirely clear at the moment, but it is understood that the striker was not given the assurance that he would have liked about his position in the Nigeria squad”.
By the way Have we all made peace with Odion Ighalo leading the line at the AFCON? We’re literally back to 2019: aside Etebo being out and Okoye in goal (that may yet change even), injuries and excuses have made it so that Nigeria could realistically name the same XI as the one that lost to Algeria. Let’s see the climax of these entertaining Things fall apart movie.
I kinda understand Dennis’ position. NFF messed up with the timing of invitation, giving the club the opportunity to use the missed deadline as leverage. However, I feel NFF knows that players can insist on honoring invitations and was trying to get Dennis to do so. Dennis, justifiably, was like “Look if I insist and fk my relationship with the club up, will u guys guarantee I start every game?” I don’t blame the guy. He’s value is on the rise and even if Watford is relagated he’ll likely get offers from other PL clubs. The last thing he’ll want is to burn bridges at Watford only to sit on the bench in Cameroon.
Do you actually realistically think Eguavoen will bench Dennis at the AFCON? C’mon man!! Is he playing for Arsenal or United??? With or without him Watford are still doom for relegation baring an unprecedented miracle. Let him stay with Watford we have Awoniyi Iheanacho and Sadiq. Musa and Ighalo will also want to prove themselves. The only player I will miss is Osimhen.
God bless you AY, I mean who is eguavoen going to bench Dennis for? Even if VO made the team, Dennis is sure gonna be one of the first name on the team shit on merit, the guy and all this people backing him just talking trash as far as I’m concern, and believe me you watford is relegating from the epl come end of season.
I tire o @KENNET and @Tayo…na so dem do all of a sudden they carry am like one kind Messiah..him fit save us pass their “the bull” or papilo?
And that is how somebody came here saying Rohr did not treat Dessers well when he was invited for a friendly or so. Say the guy was given just 20 minutes or so.. (And I was like you call 20 minutes just. When alot of ballers on the street are looking 4 just 2minutes to wear the green and white and proof their worth) And so I said should we give him 24hrs? E come turn fight..
I mean we have alot of talents too that needs playing time. So you shouldn’t be holding the largest black nation on earth to ransom. Dictating for us the amount of playing time you you should be given.
Eguavoen has this to say:
https://www.facebook.com/889brilafm/videos/505657587374104/
@Tayo you are such an intelligent mind too. Just seing your first comment. Dont mind @Ugo Iwunze and co their hatred for rohr will not make them argue with an open mind.
And @Christain Ministries Nigeria since I have known you in this forum, this is the first time your comments will be spot on.. LMFAO!! No hard feelings bro.
Dennis wanted to come.
The Watford board took advantage of NFF’s incompetence. If the Dennis invitation had been done correctly, Watford would not be able to stop Dennis from coming.
The story that Dennis is unavailable because he insists on starting games is a half truth.
It’s the Watford board that are saying: WHY SHOULD DENNIS BE ON THE BENCH AT THE AFCON, WHEN HE CAN BE HERE HELPING US AVOID RELEGATION?
Dennis on his own wants to come. But his club won’t release him. And NFF’s incompetence in the first place is what his club is capitalizing on.
The above is what I gather. My opinion is fallible. CAVEAT EMPTOR.
Was Dennis invitation done differently from Ekong’s?
See full explanation at:
https://www.completesports.com/eguavoen-watford-threatened-dennis-over-afcon/#comment-466039
We know how much fans like Dennis but don’t cry yourselves to sleep. Ighalo is far better than Dennis. Even Onyekuru will score double digits in Watford so take a chill pill everyone. I hope Olisah Ndah and Semi Ajayi hold the fort at the back. They are our best defensive pairing with Aknpeyi the cat guarding the net. Afcon is definitely coming home my guy.
ROTFL…LOL.. You people will not injure somebody with Laff. How many goals did Ighalo score when he was at Manchester United?? Is it Onyekuru that has not registered any goal and assist at the Greek league that is better than a player that has scored 8 goals in the toughest league in the world.
I do not understand why people are all arms in the air about his decision to stay back. It is logical, let us put ourselves in the player’s shoes, you see how they call onyekuru ahead of amoo, ajayi ahead of akpoguma playing in the german league, you see a noble who is not number one for his club (for a goal keeper, this is huge) being selected ahead of adeleye who is pulling trees at Israel and you expect him to sacrifice his means of livelihood for people who are obviously corrupt. Even their bonus has not been paid and yet NFF Staff get their salary as at when due. I read an INTERVIEW Dessers granted where he was visibly happy and enthused about receiving his Nigerian passport and how he said he could not wait to play for his country in nigeria. Look at how they have treated him, onyekuru who flopped at Monaco and Olympiacos is called ahead of Dessers.
One can only imagine that if Eze,Saka or M.olise had made that mistake of deciding for Nigeria, these corrupt people at NFF would have kept them out of the team. Let us direct our frustrations to the right quarters and that is NFF who have abdicated meritocracy for their corrupt ways. Leave the young man I beg!
Guys, again please wake up, don’t let these corrupt NFF fool u, don’t ever trust them, these goons took bribe from Watford board to allowed Dennis to boycott the Afcon. With Pinnick, Egyavoen and Dikko in one room boy oh boy
https://www.facebook.com/groups/2755731607987147/permalink/3449325661961068/?app=fbl super eagles first training
https://www.facebook.com/140093616059199/posts/4852488831486297/?app=fbl SORRY GUYS THIS IS THE RIGHT LINK
I sight you ejuke, double sight you awoniyi, you guys only need believe in yourself and who know, you guys might write your name among our legend to have lift the AFCON which to me is priceless . Good luck guys.
But why didn’t the clubs of Ebuehi Olayinka Ajayi and Onyekuru complain that their invitations came in late?? NFF can drag Watford to FIFA if they want to in this case because FIFA statutes is 15 days prior to a major tournament and Watford has received the invitation over a week ago at least.
Someone said Osimhen is the only player better than Dennis and he’s playing for Watford Lmao!!!! So Dennis is better than Nacho Awoniyi and Sadiq? Abeg let’s focus on this patriotic ones that have won something for Nigeria. By fire by force the cup must come home. In reality I’m confident the SuperEagles will reach the Semis at least. Anything beyond that will be highly celebrated. But as die hard fan I want the cup .
AY you just they burst my mind today anyhow, God bless you for been objective, I mean it beat me how some respected forum member supporting Dennis act, we all saw how VO fight his club tooth and nail till the end despite his case even understandable considering he is injure, there is know way or angle we gonna check this Dennis behavior that I’m gonna buy it, my own is, he should just consider watford his national team henceforth, if you have issue with NFF or the coach, what about your fans fighting daily for your inclusion.
A time is coming (It is happening now sef, look at Kalu & Dennis) when players would not honour invitations any longer and VIP Foreign scouting would be dead. Ask any professional football player, they want their manager to be honest, sincere and fair with them. The way NFF is running the SE, players will start to become disenchanted and the dressing room will eventually be affected. The mediocre ones would be happy to be there but the ones who know their worth would eventually opt to stay away. The ones who haven’t mustered enough will to stay away will form different cliques which inevitably would affect the team.
I am not a fan of Rohr but he was able to establish harmony in the team through fairness. You play well for your club, you get rewarded. This created a healthy competition in the team till Amaju and his cohorts eventually got to him and started tinkering with his team list.
@Golden Child your last paragraph is not true at all. Rohr left out some players that were playing well in the clubsides hence our criticism
Thus Dennis guy alsonside Dessers were continuous notable absentees in his team list and that’s one of the reasons we were criticizing him
Dressers and Dennis were not playing well last season, hence their absence in the Eagles. Rohr consistently said that such players were still on n his plans hence he named them in the 40 man list submitted to the FA.
I can see they were in the list of team that played Liberia and Cape Verde recently and opted out themselves
I just watched a video from Egus where he stated that the young man wanted to honour the invitation but his club was more or less threatening him. Hope this vindicates the player.
I sorry for those who don’t know NFF and Pinnick we are in 2022 those of you who like argument continue in your Contentious way I will be very much busy this year.
Please leave Dennis alone……The same people who where manufacturing excuses for Rhor for dropping Dennis are the same people saying ” who is Dennis that can not sit on the bench” ah so you need him now!……. You did not use him in the qualifiers because he is undisciplined but you want a club that risks losing out on millions of pounds if they relegate to release the undisciplined player to you?…….the same player that is now the soul of Watford and their only hope for survival?…….If nff is serious let them take Watford to FIFA I want to check something.
Now by looks of things it seems that this whole matter with Dennis and SE will hae even bigger ramifications on Dennis unfortunately. Watford have just subbed him off at half time and he was very poor in the game but they have now improved a lot without him, it looks as if either his confidence is don due to the whole distraction and being all over the news at home and abroad, but it could also be that it affects his club form and tinkerman Ranieri prefers someone else to him for the next few games and so it turns out that after all the noise and he said she said and who is to blame etc, Dennis will spend the whole month that he could have been at Afcon sitting on the bench at Watford and this is the irony of football