Former Super Eagles and Anderlecht defender Chidi Nwanu has spoken on the gang-up against former Nigeria coach, Clemens Westerhof at the USA 94 world cup, and how it hindered the team’s progression at the tournament,

In an interview with Vanguard Sports, Nwanu was asked about the belief that if not for the gang-up against Westerhof, the USA ’94 team could have got to the final, he replied saying:

“I am telling you that we had all that was needed to win that World Cup because another thing was that we had officials that were only after their estacode which they had already gotten because it was too much for them. They robbed us, the players. Maybe they were more interested in going home because if you look at that match, you would feel bad we lost the way we did.”

He continued: “Why would somebody work against his team because he was not playing? Why would players gang up against the coach who felt that we needed to change hotel to have better concentration?

I was the one who stood up against them when we had a meeting with officials and I told them whoever left this place I would make sure they stoned him at the airport when we arrived. We had a lot of issues, some of the players went out, carrying women and some slept where they were not supposed to sleep. The coach wanted to change all that and they ganged up against him. Today I see some of them coming to the national team as a coach; something you destroyed?

I was so disappointed after the match against Italy because I was not ready to leave the World Cup at the time we left. It hindered a lot of things for me personally because I had a target. That was how I saw football. It was my calling and I gave everything into it.

CRISTIANO RONALDO is planning to rival his old United team-mates by opening a new luxury hotel in Manchester.

CR7 now 35, has teamed up with Portuguese hotelier Pestana to launch the proposed 'high-end lifestyle hotel'.

It is due to open in 2023, subject to planning permission.

And it will be the seventh of the chain's 'CR7' branded hotels - named after the Portuguese captain's initials and shirt number.

The hotel group announced: "It couldn't be more appropriate - after all, this is the city where Cristiano Ronaldo started his international career in Man United back in 2003 and where he first used number 7."

Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs - who both played with Ronaldo - own two hotels together in Manchester.
They first launched their successful 'Hotel Football' in the shadow of Old Trafford in 2015.

Ronaldo on the other hand already has hotel sites in his hometown of Funchal in Madeira and in Lisbon.

More openings are expected to be on the way in New York, Madrid, Marrakech and Paris.