Super Eagles Star Slammed by Ex Agent for Refusing to Play in AFCON for Nigeria

• Emmanuel Dennis’ decision to snub AFCON 2021 has been blamed for his downfall
• The Watford forward excused himself from the Super Eagles squad
• Dennis was dropped from Nigeria’s final squad for AFCON 2023 by Jose Peseiro

Emmanuel Dennis’s fall from grace has been blamed on his decision to snub Nigeria’s invite to play at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations for the Super Eagles.

The 26-year-old forward recently returned to English Championship side Watford after failed short spells with Premier League outfit Nottingham Forest and Turkish club Istanbul Basaksehir.

According to Own Goal Nigeria, In 2021, Dennis famously turned down the opportunity to play for Nigeria in the AFCON, preferring to stay with Watford, where he was simply on fire, scoring goals for fun, and his ex-agent says that was when everything went downhill for him.

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"He was on fire at that time. So, some people around him told him not to leave for the AFCON, saying it could derail his rise. He believed them, but from that time till the end of the season, he only scored one goal.

"I really felt he would have given himself a reputation of an international star if he had gone to that tournament, such kind of reputation protects a player even at club level."

Watford would eventually be relegated from the Premier League that season, prompting the forward to join Nottingham Forest.

Dennis scored first Watford goal

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Dennis scored the first goal of his second spell with Watford in a 2-1 home loss to English Championship leaders Leicester City, Score Nigeria reports.

The 26-year-old forward rejoined the Clarets in the January transfer window from Istanbul Basaksehir after struggling to pen down a starting shirt in the Turkish team.

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Dennis hopes to help Watford gain promotion to the Premier League at the end of the season after the team was relegated in 2022.

Why Dennis parted ways with Basaksehir

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Emmanuel Dennis' dream move to Istanbul Basaksehir has turned into a nightmare after only six months, leading to his departure in January.

The Super Eagles striker, who joined the Super Lig team on loan from Nottingham Forest during the summer transfer window, has only made eight appearances for the Turkish club.