By the BBC's Eniwoke Ibagere in Lagos

Moroccan midfielder Hassan Kachloul, who plays for English Premiership team Southampton, has said he is "happy" about his team's surprise exit from the African Nations Cup after their 2-0 loss to Nigeria in one of the final Group D games.

The Moroccan defeat enabled Tunisia, 1-0 winners over Congo, to qualify with the Nigerians for the quarter-final stage.

"I'm happy we're out because I don't think the team had the same sense of purpose," Kachloul said.

"We had no team spirit. Many of the players couldn't even talk to the technical crew not least share a joke. It would have been injustice if we had qualified for the quarters."

The player, who joined perennial strugglers Southampton last season after spells with clubs in France and Spain, added: "I can now go back to England and help out my club."

Southampton, currently 17th in the 20-team Premiership table, play West Ham at The Dell on Saturday, in their first game under new boss, the former England manager, Glenn Hoddle.

Morocco are the top seeded African nation and were one of the favourites to win the tournament before it began.

They have won the Nations Cup only once in 1976.