Everton defender Joseph Yobo has hit out at Nigerian newspapers for telling "absolute lies" over a story that suggested he went nightclubbing to celebrate his birthday only hours after Nigeria failed to beat Tunisia in a crunch World Cup qualifying match in Abuja.
Yobo: "It's annoying, because what's been written is an absolute lie and unbelievable,"
"It's a callous and vicious gossip because I was extremely down. I was shattered and reflected on the game with my family all through the night.
"If the gossip were true, it clearly showed I am not fit to wear the national team colours or worthy of it's captaincy."
"I got texts congratulating me on my birthday. But I was not thinking about it, remaining focused on the big game at hand because there will be many birthdays in my life."
"This is a callous and vicious report to pull me down, but my lawyers are on it now,"
"It's unfortunate what has been said and written about me since they published this when I have been in grief for the draw on Sunday, like every Nigerian football fan."
"We disappointed over 150 million people with our performance, yet some people would have the heart and guts to party? That is absolutely unbelievable"
"If they can prove that I went out that night, I will quit the national team for good. That we failed collectively is enough rather than make me look terribly bad."
"We let our country, family and ourselves down and need to rescue what is left of our chances, hoping we can still qualify,"
"Hopefully, we can do that but right now people should know the truth about what happened and not feed on lies that will make things worse for the team."
Yobo: "It's annoying, because what's been written is an absolute lie and unbelievable,"
"It's a callous and vicious gossip because I was extremely down. I was shattered and reflected on the game with my family all through the night.
"If the gossip were true, it clearly showed I am not fit to wear the national team colours or worthy of it's captaincy."
"I got texts congratulating me on my birthday. But I was not thinking about it, remaining focused on the big game at hand because there will be many birthdays in my life."
"This is a callous and vicious report to pull me down, but my lawyers are on it now,"
"It's unfortunate what has been said and written about me since they published this when I have been in grief for the draw on Sunday, like every Nigerian football fan."
"We disappointed over 150 million people with our performance, yet some people would have the heart and guts to party? That is absolutely unbelievable"
"If they can prove that I went out that night, I will quit the national team for good. That we failed collectively is enough rather than make me look terribly bad."
"We let our country, family and ourselves down and need to rescue what is left of our chances, hoping we can still qualify,"
"Hopefully, we can do that but right now people should know the truth about what happened and not feed on lies that will make things worse for the team."
