Former head coach of Nigeria's senior women national team, Edwin Okon says he did not shun the United States women coach Jill Ellis' handshake at the Fifa Women's World Cup in Canada.
Okon came under heavy social media attack over his refusal to have a handshake with Ellis after the Super Falcons lost 1-0 to the USA in their final group match in Winnipeg, a result that led to their elimination.
"I never shunned [Jill Ellis]. No, not all. I saw her when she was having handshakes with the players, but did not quickly notice when she came to me," Okon toldGoal .
"That moment I was talking with Mr Siji Lagunju, an NFF official, about the red card given by the referee to our defender [Sarah Nnodim]. Immediately I noticed her, I walked up to her and we did shake hands.
"I have no reason whatsoever to snub her. Though, I was not happy that moment, but still she was not even the referee - so why should I snub her? If the [video recording] was replayed, everyone will notice that I shook her hand," he said.
Okon came under heavy social media attack over his refusal to have a handshake with Ellis after the Super Falcons lost 1-0 to the USA in their final group match in Winnipeg, a result that led to their elimination.
"I never shunned [Jill Ellis]. No, not all. I saw her when she was having handshakes with the players, but did not quickly notice when she came to me," Okon toldGoal .
"That moment I was talking with Mr Siji Lagunju, an NFF official, about the red card given by the referee to our defender [Sarah Nnodim]. Immediately I noticed her, I walked up to her and we did shake hands.
"I have no reason whatsoever to snub her. Though, I was not happy that moment, but still she was not even the referee - so why should I snub her? If the [video recording] was replayed, everyone will notice that I shook her hand," he said.
Okon steered the team to win a record seventh Africa Women Championship title in 2014 and qualified for the 2015 All-African Games - a feat they failed to attain in the previous attempt.
The 49-year-old, under his watch, helped the reigning Nigeria Women League champions, Rivers Angels win two league titles and Federation Cup queens five times.
The 49-year-old, under his watch, helped the reigning Nigeria Women League champions, Rivers Angels win two league titles and Federation Cup queens five times.
Okon led the Falconets, the Nigeria U20 women team, to a semi-final finish in 2012, but lost narrowly to hosts, Japan in the third place play-off before he was promoted to the Super Falcons where he served in an interim capacity from 2013 till June 2015. During his spell in charge, he was regularly owed salaries by the NFF.
Many feel that his post-match reaction coupled with the team's disastrous campaign, after they crashed out finishing bottom of Group D, fuelled his removal. He was thereafter replaced by his assistant Christopher Musa Danjuma on an interim capacity.
But the Rivers Angels coach said he was fully aware of the circumstances that led to his removal and had resolved to leave matters about his sack to providence.
"I know everything that transpired, but I'm not too worried at all - though I'm unhappy after all my efforts to do make the country proud. But I'm happy with my achievements.
"I heard about all the allegations put up against me. I won't wish to fight anything, but leave everything to God to fight on my behalf," he concluded.
But the Rivers Angels coach said he was fully aware of the circumstances that led to his removal and had resolved to leave matters about his sack to providence.
"I know everything that transpired, but I'm not too worried at all - though I'm unhappy after all my efforts to do make the country proud. But I'm happy with my achievements.
"I heard about all the allegations put up against me. I won't wish to fight anything, but leave everything to God to fight on my behalf," he concluded.
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