Coaching a national team is often described as the hardest job in soccer, and Steve Staunton and Steve McClaren certainly made it seem so at times, but neither could compare their respective travails with the almighty task facing Nigeria manager Berti Vogts at the African Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles are in danger of being the first major team eliminated from Ghana 2008 if they register a second defeat against Mali in Ghana today. The majority of their Europe-based stars failed to deliver in a spineless performance against Ivory Coast in their opening Group B encounter, yet Vogts is the man being singled out for blame.

Vogts is regularly reminded of his side's failings by the 200-strong contingent of Nigerian journalists, most of whom are furious with his team selection and tactics, and around 10,000 supporters who are quite literally camped outside the team hotel in Takoradi.

The man who guided Germany to continental glory in 1996 will not be surprised by the problems he is facing here. Vogts has stumbled through a series of pitfalls since he took charge in March last year, and threatened to walk out more than once.

"I have been close to throwing in the towel," the 62-year-old admitted in November amid reports he had not been paid in fourth months. "It cannot carry on like this."

In the build-up to this tournament, the former Scotland boss rowed with the Nigerian FA over several issues, from scheduling friendlies to player selection.

Battling to reduce outside interference is an unavoidable part of his job, and he needed to be at his most persuasive to prevent the Nigerian president, Umaru Yar'Adua, from following through with his demand to give pep talks to each player by telephone on the eve of the Ivory Coast game.

Criticism after Monday's defeat has been vehement, and Vogts knows anything other than a dramatic turnaround will bring an end to his brief and tumultuous reign.

"The sensible thing for Berti Vogts to have done was to put round pegs in round holes," wrote Nigerian newspaper Leadership on Tuesday. "It was wrong to field players in their unusual positions as well as the inclusion of non-competitive players."

The midfield role offered to Nwankwo Kanu, who had little hope of winning his battle with Yaya Toure and Didier Zokora, has sparked the most debate. The Portsmouth man is appearing in his fifth Nations Cup and is yet to score a competitive goal for his country. He lasted less than an hour before hobbling off injured against the Elephants.

Three more attacking players from the English Premier League - Yakubu Ayegbeni, Obafemi Martins and John Utaka - were equally disappointing.

Kanu's injury has almost certainly ruled him out of the Mali match, offering Vogts an opportunity to make changes. Whether he will be free to pick the players he wants is another matter. The German trainer was called in for emergency talks with the Nigeria FA on Tuesday.

"We just have to win," FA chairman Sani Lulu told reporters on his way out. "That was clearly spelt out to the coach. Nigeria is the number one football-playing nation in Africa and it is a terrible start that we have had here."

Nigeria have not won the Nations Cup since 1994 and the strain created by a demanding public is being felt not only by the coach.

"Nigerians want the Cup so much there is great pressure," Newcastle striker Martins explained. "Nigerians want to win, the players want to win, but we have to accept that if we don't, it's not the end of the world."

Not everybody is convinced by the Super Eagles' commitment. Rumours of rifts within the squad abound, and Lokomotiv Moscow forward Peter Odemwingie has been critical of his team-mates.

"The team needs to show more character," Odemwingie said after the Ivory Coast match. "There are some players who are fighting more than others, but if we are going to win everybody needs to fight together."

Following his appointment, Vogts claimed "Nigeria would win the World Cup if they had the organisation of Germany," but there have been few signs of German efficiency on the pitch.

Away from it, Vogts has left his mark. The team hotel is surrounded by iron gates and burly security staff, and disgruntled journalists are granted limited access to players.

"Closing off the hotel to journalists is unheard of," complained James Udoh from Complete Sports newspaper. "Vogts doesn't understand the way things work in Africa."

The knives have been sharpened and, after 10 turbulent months, Vogts know well how much is riding on tonight's game.