Everton's Joseph Yobo has told Goal.com that he plans to sue some Nigerian newspapers over a story that suggested he went nightclubbing only hours after Nigeria failed to beat Tunisia in a crunch World Cup qualifying match in Abuja. "It's annoying, because what's been written is an absolute lie and unbelievable," Yobo told Goal.com.

"It's a callous and vicious gossip because I was extremely down. [I was] shattered and reflected on the game with my family all through the night.

"If the gossip were true, it clearly showed I am not fit to wear the national team colours or worthy of it's captaincy."

An angry Yobo added, "I got texts congratulating me on my birthday. But I was not thinking about it, remaining focused on the big game at hand because there will be many birthdays in my life."

The Toffees defender has now decided to take legal action against the newspapers that published the false report.

"This is a callous and vicious report to pull me down, but my lawyers are on it now," he disclosed.

"It's unfortunate what has been said and written about me since they published this when I have been in grief for the draw on Sunday, like every Nigerian football fan.

"We disappointed over 150 million people with our performance, yet some people would have the heart and guts to party? That is absolutely unbelievable!

"If they can prove that I went out that night, I will quit the national team for good. That we failed collectively is enough rather than make me look terribly bad."