ACTUALITE |
07.02.2004
Nigerian stars not going back
Nigerian stars Victor Agali and Celestine Babayaro have declined an offer to rejoin the Super Eagles for the remainder of the Cup of Nations.
Agali, Babayaro and Yakubu Ayegbeni were expelled from the team after breaking a camp curfew.
All three were given a reprieve by manager Christian Chukwu on Wednesday and told they could return to help in the Super Eagles quarter-finals campaign.
Portsmouth`s Ayegbeni was the first to refuse the olive branch on Thursday, now Agali and Babayaro have joined him.
Agali, who plays for Shalke 04 in Germany, said he could not rejoin his colleagues because of the poor treatment he had received from Chukwu and the Nigeria Football Association.
"When I heard that I would be allowed to come back, I laughed because I had already resolved not to go back there," Agali told BBC Sport from Germany.
"You can`t expect me to go back and play in a good frame of mind after everything that has happened.
"Players and coaches are supposed to work together and not against each other."
Agali said he would also be reconsidering his international career following his treatment in Tunisia.
Babayaro`s English club Chelsea also confirmed he would not be returning to Tunisia.
The club`s spokesperson said that the defender had sustained a hamstring injury since returning to London.
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Hits: 1 | Source:BBC | |
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