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Frenchman Philippe Troussier has refused for the second time to coach the Nigerian national team. The Nigerian Football Association (NFA) had chosen him this week, but the coach rejected this opportunity, citing his health as the reason.
"I have decided to end negotiations with the NFA," Troussier said. "After my last meeting with the NFA leadership, for the past three days I had been to a meeting with my surgeon in Paris. We have decided to have my knee operation in September. After the operation, I will have to spend 3 months in rehabilitation. Therefore, I will not take on the responsibility, and I will not be able to help Nigeria qualify for the upcoming World Cup."
Troussier, who was fired from a club at the end of last season, said he does not expect Nigeria to qualify for the World Cup in Germany.
"Football is unpredictable, but I think Nigeria's chances of going to Germany are less than 10 percent," the coach said.
Nigeria, which reached the final three stages of the World Cup, is fighting against the Angolan team in the fourth qualification group. There are two matches left until the end of the qualification.
Troussier was dismissed from his position as coach of the Nigerian national team in 1997, even though he had helped the team qualify for the 1998 World Cup.
The fifty-year-old coach also coached the national teams of Ivory Coast, South Africa, Burkina Faso, and Japan.
