'I've Heard That He Has No Coaching Diplomas' - Eagles Coach Rohr Taunts New Assistant Yobo

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has aimed a dig at his new assistant, Joseph Yobo by revealing that the former Everton defender has no coaching qualifications.

Out of the blue, the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed the appointment of the former Super Eagles captain on Wednesday to replace Imama Amapakabo, something Rohr admitted that he was aware of before it was made public.

Though Rohr played dumb over the axing of Amapakabo, the former Enugu Rangers coach is no longer in the good books of the Super Eagles faithful and the Nigerian Federation after the country's failure to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games and African Nations Championship.

"The NFF has the right to pick one assistant coach for my staff, so they are the ones to communicate the reasons for the appointment, not myself. I was informed by Amaju Pinnick, in a telephone call, before it was made public," Rohr told BBC journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.

"I don't know why Amapakabo has been removed. I worked very well with him. He did a very good job with me.

"I regret his departure. But since the NFF have the right to take this decision, there is nothing that I can do about it."

On Yobo's appointment, the Franco-German did not mince his words : "I have the responsibility to develop coaches from Nigeria as agreed with NFF. I am more than happy to do that.

"Joseph Yobo is welcome to the team, of course. I have heard that he has no coaching diplomas, so I will talk to him, about this.

"If what I have heard is correct, I will tell Yobo that he needs to do the training required, to grow as a coach.''

Yobo's first assignment as assistant coach of the Super Eagles will be against Sierra Leone in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier next month.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : fifa.com