Howard University
African Students' Association

Fifa boss Sepp Blatter has delivered a stinging rebuke to coach Berti Vogts over his spell in charge of the Nigeria national team.

The German quit the post last month in the wake of a hugely disappointing Nations Cup campaign after their quarter-final exit.

Blatter suggests that Vogts’ inability to stay in the west African country during his reign could have been responsible for Nigeria’s worst Nations Cup display for 25 years.

“My old friend Berti Vogts was in charge of Nigeria and he didn’t even live in the country - that surely can’t be the correct way proceed?,” Blatter asked.

“Vogts was not living in Nigeria because he said his players weren’t there. But to feel a team you must feel the country.”

Only four coaches out of the 16 teams at the recent African Cup of Nations were from the countries they were leading.

But Blatter believes national team coaches should come from the same country as the players and wants foreign coaches to be banned from national teams.

“In Africa recently, many of the countries competing in the Cup of Nations had foreign coaches but all have now gone,” Blatter said.

“Of course, national associations are free to choose who they believe is the right man but I do think that the cause of international football would be made stronger with indigenous coaches.

“I cannot believe that it is possible to properly bring young players into international football and motivate them and bring improvement through a translator.

“I will bring it to the Technical Committee on Monday. If we had such a rule maybe it would impact on the freedom of the associations. But we can take up this matter.”

From news.bbc.co.uk

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