Former Super Eagles Captain, Daniel 'Da Bull' Amokachi, may have drawn harsh criticisms and condemnation to himself after he allegedly left out no fewer than nine influential Members of the Super Eagles squad that faced Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the final of the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations jointly hosted by Nigeria and Ghana during Thursday's 'reunion' friendly against their 2000 Cameroon AFCON team in Cameroon, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

The National Association of Cameroonian Footballers had invited their Super Eagles counterpart for the friendly to mark the 23 years of that epic clash at the now 'moribund' National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos which the Indomitable Lions won on penalties after a nail-bitting 2-2 draw. Bonfrere Jo, a Dutch gaffer, was in charge of Super Eagles at the time having four years earlier led the U23 Olympic Eagles to win the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games Soccer Gold after a 3-2 triumph over Argentina.

Bonfrere Jo was to be in the dug-out for the 2000 Super Eagles squad during the match against their 2000 Indomitable Lions of Cameroon counterpart but the Dutch man missed the trip on account of visa-related hitches.

But Amokachi, who was a former aide of ex President Muhammadu Buhati, stirred the hornets nest by not taking about nine key players of the silver medal winning Super Eagles players to the friendly in which each of them was billed to earn $5000 match bonus.

Instead, 'Da Bull' who has been severely castigated by the players he did not take along, was said to have replaced them with those who were not part of the Super Eagles 2000 AFCON Squad.

Checks reveal that the likes of midfielder, Sunday Oliseh, Captain Mutiu Adepoju, defenders Celestine Babayaro, Furo Iyenemi, Gbenga Okunnowo, and Efetobore Sodje, striker  Benedict Akwuegbu, winger Finidi George and goalkeeper Ike Shorounmu were conspicuously and shockingly left out.

Instead, the likes of former Captain and Super Eagles defender, Joseph Yobo, Peter Rufai, Emmanuel Emenike, Sunday Mba, Obinna Nwaneri, Elderson Echejile, Vincent Enyeama, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, and Daniel Amokachi who were not part of the Super Eagles 2000 AFCON were listed for the Cameroon showpiece which Nigeria lost 1-3 in Limbe on Thursday.

Fuming with rage, some of the players who were left out came down hard on Amokachi, acussing him of exhibiting traits that betrays spirit of comradeship, saying such attitude was reason Nigerian football had been held down.

The players also wondered why a person in the position of Amokachi as a former national team captain and who had risen to the status Presidential Aide cannot speak and stand for his teammates at this point in time.

They felt that if ex players could shortchange their ex teammates this way, what moral justification would they have to voice their displeasure if 'politician' do same, or even worse.

"Sometimes I am ashamed with the way Nigerians behave", starts a furious Furo Iyenemi, who's based in Belgium. 

"I and other players who were part of the Super Eagles that were registered for the 2000 AFCON competition are still alive but being replaced with those who have not been playing for the team as at that time, are not happy about this.

"On Monday, I was contacted by my Cameroonian friend who is based in Belgium with me that a match which involves Super Eagles of Year 2000 African Nations Cup and their Cameroonian counterparts will be played on Thursday in Limbe and he was surprised to hear that I didn't know anything about the game. 

"He then contacted one of the of organisers of the match. On hearing that I was not invited, he shouted and asked why I was omitted. I told him I don't know why.

"It's sad that the same people who blame Nigerian politicians when they shortchange the citizens are now doing same", Iyenemi submitted.

Similarly, Gbenga Okunnowo, a former Barcelona and Super Eagles defender, who is now based in Spain raised eyebrow saying that he was sad being left out.

He admitted being informed about the match earlier but added that when it was time for the game, he was left in the dark and out.

"Yes, Amokachi contacted me two weeks ago, informing me that there will be a match between Super Eagles of Year 2000 Cup of African Nations Vs Cameroon players that played in the same tournament", Okunnowo said. 

"But till now, I didn't hear anything again until Wednesday afternoon when one of the players that was sidelined called my attention to it that the match would be played the following day (Thursday).

"If a senior player like Daniel Amokachi can do this, then, I am short of words because I can't do such thing to a younger player. 

"I am here in Barcelona, still alive and someone who was not part of the team was used to replace me. 
What am I even saying? The captain of the team, my brother, Mutiu Adepoju was left behind. If a player like Adepoju could removed, then who am I to complain?

"As a former Barcelona player who is based in the country, I have the contact of Eto'o or I can use my contact through Barcelona to reach and get invitation but to what end?"

Organisers of the Year 2000 AFCON Repeat game, The National Association of Cameroonian Footballers had in a letter dated 6th October, 2023 in possession  Exclusivenews.com.ng asked Amokachi to compile the list of the players in the squad, get their contacts across for the Association to be able to arrange their flights, accomodation and other logistics to make them available for the November 30 testimonial game with $5,000 as match bonus. 

"On the occasion of the second edition of international Plantain Festival currently being celebrated in Cameroon, from November 30 to December 3, 2023, in Limbe to which the Super Eagles of Nigeria are invited for a nostalgic remake of the Final of CAN 2000 against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon on November 30 of the current month", the letter of invitation reads in part.

"The arrival date of the players will be scheduled for November 28 with a return date on December 1. I hereby invite you to produce as soon as possible the list of players from the 2000 generation and also define the individual participation bonus set at $5,000", the invitation letter added.

However, it was scooped that Celestine Babayaro, who was also contacted by Amokachi, opted out of the testimonial game.

On Saturday, 2 December, 2023, before our going to press, Exclusivenews.com.ng made spirited efforts to get Daniel Amokachi's response on the allegation levelled against him by some members of the Super Eagles 2000 squad who participated in that year's AFCON as regards the Cameroon invitational match on Thursday. 

Several calls were put through to his mobile phone but none was answered. Later, a short message service, sms was sent to his mobile phone but was not responded to at the time of our going to press.