Vogts gets Nations Cup ultimatum

The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) says German coach Berti Vogts has no excuse not to win the 2008 African Cup of Nations in Ghana.

NFA secretary-general, Bolaji Ojo-Oba, says the federation has provided all the necessary support to enable the Super Eagles win their first title since 1994.

Nigeria's players will receive $49,000 each if the team wins the tournament which starts on 20 January.

"We have also sorted out the team bonuses for the tournament, so there is absolutely no excuse or whatsoever for failure," Ojo-Oba told Punch newspaper.

"In the past three months we have played four quality friendly games and we believe this is a good development for the team.

"Our target is the trophy, we went for a quality coach and now we are working hard with the preparation.

"Hence, we expect the best from the coach and his players because we have fulfilled our own administrative part."

Vogts believes that with the talents at his disposal, the Super Eagles are on course for their third title after a 14-year hiatus.

"Nigeria has an over-flowing abundance of players in the best leagues of the world," Vogts said.

"They are showing the right attitude in their clubs and the NFA has also shown enough support.

"With all this, I believe that the players cannot fail," the former coach of Germany and Scotland said.

Nigeria, who won the Nations Cup in 1980 and 1994, are drawn in Group B with Ivory Coast, Mali and Benin.

I'm really happy about this. Its a win-win. Its really questionable whether the guy has the passion and desire for Nigeria to succeed. Statements he's made in the past such as 'Ivory Coast are by far the best team in Africa', show a lack of belief in the talent Nigeria has imo. At least now, even if his own job is the incentive, at least he'll try and win the Nations Cup, and could be passionate about it.

lol. I feel sorry for the guy...but this is all in a day's work for the NFA. I mean the Nigeria coaching job must be the most demanding on the continent and there is always pressure to deliver, particulalry in the big tournaments such as this one.

But a guy like Vogts should be used to such pressure and given the talent at his disposal, he'll certainly have a real shot at winning it.

Thats big pressure to put on a manager but he is use to it, so I don´t think it will affect him or the team.

Do us proud!

Vogts could 'throw in towel'

Nigeria's German coach Berti Vogts has admitted that his Super Eagles' future is in doubt just two weeks before the start of the African Nations Cup.

Vogts said delays in salary payments were making him consider quitting 12 months into his four-year contract.

"I love Africa, but I don't know how long I can put up with these problems," Vogts said.

Vogts also revealed he had been close to "throwing in the towel" on several occasions during his time in charge.

The 61-year-old, who formerly coached Germany (1990-98) and Scotland (2002-04), nevertheless praised his team stating it was "a pleasure to work with players of quality".

"Something special has been built between them and (and the players), it's what motivates me to continue my work despite the difficulties.

"If football in Nigeria was organised as in Germany the team would be unbeatable.

"Even Brazil would have to watch out for Nigeria," Vogts told German newspaper Augsburger Allgemeinen Zeitung.

The Super Eagles won the African Nations Cup in 1980 and 1994, and have been drawn in Group B with Ivory Coast, Mali and Benin for the tournament which gets underway on January 20 in Ghana.

Without trying to sound arrogant, I must agree with him. I think Nigeria has all the potential in the World at every age group and the complete incompetence and lackadaisical attitude of the FA is stopping Nigerian football from being all it can be. Its a big big shame.

As for Vogts leaving, I wouldn't like to see it before the tournament, as such a story would be a burden on the players during the tournament, but I feel that if Eguavoen went to learn under a world Class manager, he could improve as a coach himself as he already has the passion, ambition and the desire for Nigeria to succeed.

Can we pay him some compensation and let him go, then guy is a just a wanker, his selection were totally wrong, which kind of idiot carries so few midfielders to a tournament and that much strikers. The guy totally disgraced the Nigerian football culture with the long ball we played and I have not seen so many players with no good first touch starting for the National team since I started watching the eagles play and why play with Wingers when we don’t have them. A smarter coach would have played with two defensive midfielders and given Mikel a free role, how can you most creative player and passer of the ball be stuck as a DM when they was not other person been creative for the team.