Stephen Keshi's Ghanaian agent, Emma Addo, says Nigeria should remain grateful to his client for rescuing them from football wilderness and bringing them back to international prominence.
The former international defender was sacked as the coach of the Super Eagles this month despite leading the side to successes including winning the Africa Cup of Nations title and qualifying the side to the World Cup.
Some in Nigeria have subjected the coach to severe criticism as the side struggled in the qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Morocco.
Addo said that Nigeria was playing the role of a sleeping giant on the international scene until Keshi was appointed coach in 2012.
"When Keshi took over Nigeria just failed to qualify for the Africa cup of Nations,before him they have participated at the tournament without success for 19 year," he said
"In less than a year he not only qualified Nigeria for the Cup of Nations, he won it and took Nigeria to the World Cup as well, Nigerians should remain grateful to him.
"As a Nation, Nigeria were under achievers before Keshi came on board, there was confusion as to how to phase out the under performing bunch.
"Keshi oversaw a generational shift brought in the likes of Omeruo, Onazi, Obaboana, Babatunde and a lot of them to replace the tired legs, what else?"