Posted by By Richard Jideaka, Sekondi on
Out-of-favour Super Eagles manager, Berti Vogts, has blamed the lacklustre performance of the team on the players' inability to rise to the big occasion at the African Nations Cup in Ghana.
Out-of-favour Super Eagles manager, Berti Vogts, has blamed the lacklustre performance of the team on the players' inability to rise to the big occasion at the African Nations Cup in Ghana.
Speaking to Daily Sunsport with some Ghanaians at the Eagles Ray Bow Hotel lodge, Vogts stated that he was left shocked by the players' poor showing so far in the competition, adding that it was unbelievable that his team played so badly.
"Before the championship, they gave us so much hope and I was convinced that we were heading to the final, but I cannot explain what went wrong with the team. I have tried to psyche them up, but it has not yielded anything. It is okay now, because I now know the players very well and I know how to deal with them in future.
"I have to draw up fresh plans to handle the Eagles and take them to the point expected of them. It means I have to drop some players and bring in new faces to replace tired ones. I would be hard in taking decisions and I am sure the players will understand and show more commitment. I would not resign my appointment because I have a mission to take Nigeria to the 2010 World Cup.
" I must tell you that it was hard to swallow the outcome of the results here and I want to say that I did my part well and the NFA did theirs, but the players refused to play according to plan and som put us in difficult position," he stated.
The German remained adamant on the defeat, insisting that he would not accept responsibility for the performance of the team so far, adding that it would be a miracle for the Eagles to qualify now, but the future would be better.
He also said that the he played against were good teams, but that he was sad that his players had failed to score a single goal in the competition.