'Joseph Yobo Has Not Called Me' - Rohr Gives Clear Hint Of Discord Between Himself & Everton Legend

Published: March 07, 2020

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr has given a clear hint of discord between himself and newly appointed assistant coach of the Super Eagles, Joseph Yobo, with the German revealing that the Everton legend has chosen not to contact him since he replaced Imama Amapakabo.

Roughly a month ago, Yobo took over from Amapakabo, who was shown the exit door by the Nigeria Football Federation following a poor run of results, with the home-based Super Eagles and Dream Team VII failing to qualify for the African Nations Championship and 2020 Olympic Games respectively.

Although Yobo's appointment was not rubber-stamped by Rohr, the Nigerian Federation acted within their powers to name the former Super Eagles captain as the German's assistant.

"Joseph Yobo has not called me. I don’t have his number. I expect to meet him when I return to Nigeria next week, to prepare for the AFCON qualifier against Sierra Leone," Rohr said to BBC journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.

"When I meet him, I will give him traditional missions normally assigned to an assistant coach.

"Amapakabo did the real work of a coach on the pitch."

When probed further on the situation regarding Joseph Yobo not being normal, Rohr said : "You can say it. But I cannot. Under the terms of my contract, Nigerian Federation have the right to do what they have done".

Regarding his contract which runs out in the next three and a half months, Rohr revealed that there is no new offer on the table contrary to what is out there in the local press.

"I will meet with Amaju Pinnick next week, before our camping and we shall see. Meanwhile, I will keep doing my job," the former Bayern Munich defender stated.

On the delay in concluding the renewal of his contract, Rohr said : "We hope that things will be better in the future.” We shall see what happens with the Super Eagles".

The Super Eagles under Rohr have been undefeated since losing to eventual champions Algeria in the semifinal of the Africa Cup of Nations in July 2019.

Igho Kingsley