By the BBC's Eniwoke Ibagere in Lagos

Morocco and Southampton midfielder Hassan Kachloul said he was "happy" about his team's exit from the African Nations Cup after their 2-0 loss to Nigeria.

The Moroccan defeat in one of the final Group D games 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," said Kachloul.

"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 on the 20-team premier league table, have signed former  England manager Glenn Hoddle as their new boss to help turn things around.

They play West Ham at The Dell on Saturday. Morocco, one of the favourites to win the tournament, have won the Nations Cup only once, in 1976.