EXCLUSIVE! Berti Vogts has hit out against his treatment by the Nigerian media, accusing them of racism.

The German came in for fierce criticism as his Nigeria side narrowly avoided a first-round exit from the African Cup of Nations.

Vogts explained his decision not to speak to Nigerian journalists, saying their incessant condemnation was not acceptable.

"If white journalists handled a black manager like this, I think you would call it racism," he told Eurosport-Yahoo!

"I don't need to put up with what has been going on there. I talked to the international press and I am still open for requests of other media representatives."

Former Germany and Scotland boss Vogts was pilloried for selecting seven strikers in his squad - and then seeing his side fail to score in their opening two games.

But a 2-0 win over Benin, coupled with Mali's loss to the Ivory Coast, has seen Nigeria go through to the quarter-finals, where they face hosts Ghana.

Nonetheless, the media have continued to speculate that he will leave his job at the end of the tournament despite being under contract until 2010.

"I don't care about this [speculation]. I know the people writing this," Vogts said.

"They even wrote we were unable to train in our training camp in Malage because of ice and snow - but in reality it was 20°C.

"Many of these journalists aren't even here. They are watching the matches on TV, writing that we have to become world champions."

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Alexander Beisse / Eurosport