After news emerged on Thursday that Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has been fired by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the nation’s football governing body has denied the claims.
Rohr’s future with the Nigerian senior national team was cast in doubts after he led the Super Eagles to a run of uninspiring home games which led to a loss against the Central African Republic and then, a draw against Cape Verde.
The Nigerian and international media on Thursday reported widely that the Franco-German had gotten the boot, but the NFF has denied, hours after the news went viral.
Federation President, Amaju Pinnick said that “The Board of the NFF is studying the report of the Technical Committee, which it submitted after the match against Cape Verde in Lagos on Tuesday. There are a number of possibilities but we have not taken a decision to sack Gernot Rohr. I want to assure that whatever decision is eventually taken will be one that will please the generality of Nigerians.
“Mr Rohr has a contract with the NFF and there is a procedure for disengagement. If we get to that bridge, both parties will look at the contract and see what has to be done both ways. The Super Eagles’ squad is a national asset and we are just fortunate to be in that space to take decisions. Any decision we take must be what will be acceptable to Nigerians from far and near.”
Rohr is Nigeria’s longest-serving coach as he has spent five years at the helm, playing 54 games and winning 28 of them. He led Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup after an impressive qualifying phase and also won a bronze medal with the Super Eagles at the 2019 AFCON.
He has also helped the Nigerian national team earn a qualification for the 2022 AFCON and is also at the final round of the World Cup Qualifiers.
A string of average displays by the team, and a show of inflexibility in approach has seen Nigerians disillusioned with the system adopted by Rohr and his early impressive performances have been put under questioning in recent months.
NFF U-Turn or Fake News
Rohr’s dismissal had spread round the Nigerian media on Thursday but there was no official confirmation of the report. However, there were also insinuations that the German’s severance bonuses may be a snag even if the football federation wanted to see his back.
To avoid a potential messy tussle with the coach, the NFF may need to source for funds to clear his severance bonuses and salary. There are also insinuations that Rohr is being convinced to resign from his position but has not accepted until now.