The interim boss saw his side crash out of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations despite their impressive performances in the group stages
Super Eagles interim coach Austin Eguavoen has criticised the performance of Senegalese referee Maguette Ndiaye following Nigeria's round of 16 exit at the 2021 AFCON.
The Super Eagles promising campaign in the competition came to a disappointing end following a 1-0 loss to Tunisia on Sunday night.
Youssef Msakni's strike from outside the box was all the Carthage Eagles needed to progress to the quarterfinal at the expense of Nigeria.
Msakni's goal was not the only talking point of the game, though, as Nigeria also had Alex Iwobi sent off five minutes after coming on.
Initially, Ndiaye awarded the Everton man a yellow card but changed his decision following a VAR review. And speaking after the game, Eguavoen criticised the controversial Senegalese referee, saying some of his calls were wrong.
“Iwobi's red card, I don't think it was,” Eguavoen said at his post-match press conference as per Modo.
“It was the first foul, and it wasn't intentional, but we have to look at the VAR later and see.”
“However, first offence, I don't think it was a red card. It wasn't dangerous play.
“The boys fought, officiating wasn't fair.”
Eguavoen was also critical of the referee's decision to blow fouls in favour of Nigeria when he could have played an advantage.
“And then right in his face, I can see one of the most gentlemen in the team, Wilfred Ndidi, got marched and right in the face of the referee, Ndidi complained.”
“But having said that, we gain advantage to move on and breakaway, and then he recalls it and gives us fouls.”
“Normally, in the game of football, and there's an advantageous position, you let it run,” Eguavoen added.
Augustin Eguavoen has not been a good coach to have Take over our team…if not due to irregularities that is happening in our sport body …. we leave from past to present look at his previous antecedent and the local team he coached in Nigeria what happened to him? He never update himself not travels to scout for work he got that on trial and a field and is not using excuse of officiating it is only a lazy lion get to the battlefield and look for excuse he has all the materials but he lack the technical skill is it disable technical coach he does not even fit him to that post I see him as a charlatan immediately I heard the news is an interim coach I was not duffle that Nigeria will not perform so I’m not surprised for his results what you don’t have you cannot give……..