Interim coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Austine Eguavoen has fired back at the coach of Egypt over his claims that his team were denied a stone wall penalty in their 0-1 defeat to Nigeria at the 2021 delayed Africa Cup of Nations.
Hector Cuper branded the decision to award a penalty to Nigeria a huge let off for the Super Eagles as it would have helped his team to at least salvage something from the game.“In the second half, there was a very clear penalty for us that the referee didn’t award and the VAR did not intervene,” Queiroz said after the game.
“Maybe at that time, the VAR was not working.
“There was clearly a penalty. It wasn’t our day, it wasn’t also a good day for the refereeing. Even my grandmother would have awarded it a penalty.
“It is a disaster because there are VAR referees. It is unacceptable. Watch the incident yourself. It’s unbelievable that with all these referees, no one noticed the penalty,” he added.
After yesterday’s training, OwnGoalNigeria.com sort to hear from the Nigerian gaffer on the claims by Cuper, the Nigerian coach hit back by saying it’s not his fault that VAR didn’t see the incident as one that is worthy of a penalty.
“Everybody is entitled to their opinion. Egypt is one team I have always respected. They have a good coach in Carlos Quieroz and great player like Mo Salah. It’s not our fault. If VAR didn’t pick the particular incident, so be it”, he said.
“I thought we also scored a goal from Awoniyi. But when I see the action after the game, the ball didn’t cross the line. There was ball to hand incident in the first half. It wasn’t up to me to decide but the centre referee. Egypt is a good side, I don’t want anyone to look down on them. They have a solid and good side. VAR is there to decide for everyone”, he concluded.
