NFF Should Hold On To Rohr As Super Eagles Head Coach Seeks To Qualify Nigeria For World Cup, AFCON

Published: January 06, 2020

Recently, Media Officer of the Super Eagles Toyin Ibitoye disclosed in a radio programme that head coach Gernot Rohr will not quit his job and is expected back in Nigeria within the month of January ahead of the draws for the second round of qualifiers to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The news was a good one in the sense that it ensures stability in the Nigerian national team albeit certain persons in the Nigeria Football Federation apparently do not want Rohr to continue his job.

The former Burkina Faso and Gabon coach was free to negotiate a new contract with another from January 1 with his contract with the NFF set to end in June and he has stated in the media that he could leave with DR Congo said to be interested in his services..

"Everybody in the NFF appreciates the job being done by Gernot Rohr. The coaches and the players, we are in touch all the time," Ibitoye stated on Brila FM.

"Rohr loves his job that he is doing in the Eagles and the results are showing so why should he leave at this point. There's no true in that report at all.

"Rohr is coming back. The World Cup qualifiers will start in March so we have to be united, focused; ensure that we have no distractions because we have to approach the World Cup qualifiers with all the seriousness that it deserves.

"We expect Rohr to come to back to Nigeria say in two weeks' time all things being equal. He will be meeting with the Nigeria Football Federation and of course you know that in the third week of January the draws for the second round of qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup.

"There are plans for him to be at the draws in Egypt. That's the next agenda and like I said, March is not too far away."

Ibitoye also stressed that relationship between the coach and his employers have improved after media spats between both parties.

"It is in our interest that we should avoid those cracks (Rohr and the NFF media war) because if we don't, there wont much headway.

"We should ensure that there's no third party interference and I like the harmonious and matured way things are going on right now. If the NFF provide him with an accommodation that will be nice and it will cut cost in the interest of the NFF.

Ibitoye also debunked claims that Rohr has no interest in watching the Nigeria Professional Football League and do not wish to make his team one that parade many home based players.

"Rohr has watched a lot of matches in the NPFL. I will personally pick him up from his hotel to the stadiums. We have watched matches in Lagos, Enugu, Jos and many other places," the image maker of the Eagles concluded.

It will be in the best interest of the Nigerian national team and for the chieftains of the NFF not to sack the present coach in the midst of qualifiers for major tournaments as that could affect team chemistry and tactical adaptability should a new coach be employed.

Continuity is key in any sphere of life although admittedly changes are necessary when things go south.

Even if there will be a change of guard, the best bet is to wait until the tickets for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2022 FIFA World Cup are in the bag.

Izuchukwu Okosi