erti Vogts has quit as Nigeria national team coach with immediate effect according to a statement from the former coach to German media.

Berti Vogts at a press conference

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The 61-year-old, who guided Germany to victory at UEFA EURO 1996 was heavily criticised in Nigeria following their CAF Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final defeat to hosts Ghana.

In a statement to German sports news agency SID, Vogts criticised the Nigerian Football Association for their lack of support for his training team in the face of heavy attacks in the Nigerian media.

"The actions and behaviour of the Nigerian Football Association during and after the African Nations Cup have destroyed all trust between the two parties and further cooperation is impossible," Vogts' lawyer Stefan von Moers said.

Many expected the Nigerian Football Association to sack Vogts after the team's unconvincing performance in the tournament.

Nigerian media - and former Nigeria midfielder Sunday Oliseh - criticised the coach for putting together an all-German training team, including former Germany players Steffen Freund and Uli Stein.

Vogts, who took over the job last March, emphasised that "working with the team and players was a great pleasure" and said he particularly regrets he "cannot continue this cooperation and the building of a new powerful Nigerian national team."

Vogts' contract with Nigeria was due to run until the end of the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010™. It is unclear who will replace the German ahead of Nigeria's qualifying campaign.