By DPA
Abuja/Dusseldorf : Berti Vogts, the German head coach of Nigeria’s national football side, has not been sacked and is staying in his job, the Nigeria Football Association has said, countering speculation that the trainer was about to be fired.
The speculation had been doing the rounds since Sunday when the Super Eagles, as the Nigerian side is called, were sent out of the ongoing African Cup of Nations competition at the quarterfinals stage in a 2-1 defeat against host Ghana.
NFA board member Abubakar Ladan told reporters: “Vogts has not been sacked, contrary to media reports. In spite of the dismal performance of the Eagles and with the full support of the Nigerian government, we have decided to follow the due process.”
The embattled Vogts, 61, has left Ghana for Germany. So have most of the Europe-based footballers on the Nigerian squad. Vogts himself had rejected Nigerian press reports that he was about to be sacked.
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Clemente’s Iran contract
Tehran: Former Spain coach Javier Clemente has failed to finalise his contract with the Iranian Football Federation (FFI) during his four-day stay in Tehran, FFI president Ali Kafashian has said. Kafashian told news network Khabar that although the final contract had been drawn up, Clemente was scheduled to leave Tehran without having made up his mind about whether he will coach Iran or not.
Kafashian said that Clemente has said that he would announce his decision early next week. He added that in case the Spaniard rejects the offer, Iran would look for other foreign coaches or even local trainers. Local sports sources say that FFI officials are not overly confident that they will secure Clemente’s services and could once again look for German coaches.
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AC Milan face striker injury problems
Milan: AC Milan may have to use a youth team striker to replace injured young star Alexandre Pato, media reports said. La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Alberto Paloschi, 18, was to begin training with the first team and could make his debut against Siena in the Serie A Sunday.
Pato could be sidelined for at least two weeks with an ankle injury. With veterans Filippo Inzaghi and Ronaldo having just recovered from injury lay-offs and Alberto Gilardino suspended, Milan have problems up front as they strive to clinch a fourth place that secures a berth in the next Champions League. Pato has begun treatment of the left ankle he sprained after scoring the winner, his fourth goal in six games, as the Devils won 1-0 at Fiorentina at the weekend.
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Cameroon coach denied entry to stadium
Accra (Ghana): Otto Pfister, the German coach of African Nations Cup semi-finalists Cameroon, was denied access to the main stadium ahead of his team’s training session. Pfister, 70, wanted to enter the Ohene Djan Stadium, but was denied entry, which resulted in a scuffle with local police here Wednesday.
Pfister, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the organisation of the tournament, was not allowed in after policemen told ground staff to deny him entry. The coach is said to have sworn at police, who are said to have sworn back.
After a few minutes, a member of the Cameroon delegation forced a door open, which allowed Pfister to enter the field. “This is a total disaster. I don’t know if this is the Nations Cup or a tournament for children,” he said.