Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr is a somewhat hot-in-demand football manager following Nigeria’s third place finish at the 2019 CAF African Nations Cup in Egypt penultimate week.
Although the highly traveled coach continues to receive flaks from football fans and afficianados due to his none comittal approach to the development of the local game, he continues to receive rave comments abroad. Immediately following their 1-0 win over Tunisia to win the bronze medal, the Morrocan FA was all edged to uave made inquiries about the Franco-German football tactician.
But Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Melvin Pinnick appears confident in introverted manager. A leaked NFF memo was widely quoted in the media indicating the German would be sponsored to his home country’s leading Bundesliga side, FC Bayern Munich for a refresher course.
“This is unheard of: when is it the nff’s responsibility to send an expatriate coach on a refresher course”, Sam Sighs, a former defunct NEPA FC player told Shipping World.
Godwin Dudu-Orumen, who runs Nigeria’s first sports lounge, SportShaq in Surulere, Lagos and now Edo State Director of Sports remains highly critical of the German. “It doesn’t matter the outcome of the third place match, it’s time for Gernot Rohr to go. His tactics are not winning is games. Against Algeria, he could have won, but he chose to play defensive and gave the Algerians opportunity to finish off the match. It was the same tactics against the South Africans, who were undone by inexperience and their too much show of respect for the Super Eagles, ” he wrote on his facebook page.
Rohr’s stay continue to elucidate mix reaction.
Ade Ojeikere, veteran Editor of the sports daily, sportinglife noted that it was time for the manager to leave. He believes the German can’t take Nigerian football to the desired height. “Let’s face it: late Stephen Keshi won us this Nations Cup under more stringent contitions in South Africa in 2013. So why make excuses for him? ”
On the statement by Pinnlck that Rohr met the semifinals target wet for him by NFF, Ojeikere was livid. What an excuse. That’s mediocrity speaking. How can we set a semifinals berth as benchmark in African football? It is absolutely unacceptable. “
Last Wednesday, he jetted out of Nigeria to Bordeaux, France for a deserved holiday. Nigeria would later meet with Benin Republic ‘s national side on November 11 in a 2021 CAF African Nations Cup qualification match in a yet to be named venue in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s other group mates in the elimination series are Sierra Leone and Lesotho.
Last Wednesday, the embattled coach sought unsuccessfully to hold talks with NFF boss Pinnick who was involved with FIFA facility inspectors in the nation for the under-20 women’s World Cup next year expected to be hosted by Nigeria.
Would Gernot Rohr remain Nigeria’s manager?
Shipping World can authoritatively report that he is likely to remain here a while longer. “The NFF is comfortable with him. The Football House is not in a position to go scouting for a coach Nigerian fans seek. They cannot pay the asking price of such managers”, a source close to the Glass House in Abuja enthused.
Following poor runs in Egypt, Cameroon sacked their highly prized Dutch Manager, Clarence Seeddof and along with his assistant Patrik Kluivert and the entire backroom staff.
Tanzania also sacked their Nigerian Manager Emmanuel Amuneke, who took them to the continental showpiece event after 39 years absence.
Meanwhile, Super Eagles clime have moved massive 12 places to World no. 31 in the latest FIFA world rankings following their third-place finish in Egypt.