Former Nigeria international Daniel Amokachi believes the Super Eagles deserved not to be among the best 32 nations competing at the ongoing Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The three-time African champions are missing out of their seventh World Cup outing by the Black Stars of Ghana who after playing a barren draw in Kumasi before a 1-1 draw in Abuja to crash out on away goal rule.
And on the heels of the team's embarrassing 4-0 loss to Portugal in Lisbon last week and the 1994 African Cup of Nations winner feels that the team's poor display underlines their undeserving qualification.
“When you look at the Portugal game, that tells you that we don’t even deserve to be there (World Cup). It was poor by all standard,” Amokachi said on Channels TV.
Since replacing sacked Gernot Rohr, current Nigeria coach Jose Peseiro is yet to win against a strong opposition and the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Bauhari on Sports, also questioned the choice of the Portuguese.
“There are one two three different angles that you have to look at it, bringing in the right coach, bringing in the right players and get the right environment to play at," he continued.
"We always bring the wrong coaches to handle country like Nigeria; we always bring the wrong players.”
The former Besiktas forward, who was an assistant to Stephen Keshi's led team to 2013 Africa Cup of Nations glory blamed the poor choices of recruitment of the former FA boss Amaju Pinnick for Nigeria's botched qualification.
“I am one of Gernot Rohr’s critics, but I believe the timing of his sack was wrong. They left it too late, and they paid the price. Rohr was not the right person for the job, but the timing of his sack was wrong," he opined.
“Then they brought in Cerezo (Austin Eguavoen) who did his best and had a good run at the Afcon. But the difference is they don’t give the local confident to bring in his own staff, and they entangle into his business.
“What we heard was on why they didn’t make it to Qatar was that on the eve of the game against Ghana, some players heard they are going to start. Maybe they had an interactions with member of thetechnical crew.
“And before the game, when the players sat in front of the tactical board, there was a different list entirely, and that tell there is an interference from some officials who want certain players involved,” he concluded.
