NFF Gives Rohr Stringent Conditions To Remain Coach; May Face Sack; Rohr Reacts

By Akinwale Kasali

The Amaju Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, is about to lay to rest the crisis over the renewal of Franco-German Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, which has been in the front burner of discourse for months.

The NFF agreed to extend Rohr’s contract after its appointment of former Super Eagles Captain and ex-International, Joseph Yobo, as Assistant Coach.

To appoint Yobo,  the NFF had relieved Imama Amapakabo and Salisu Ibrahim as Assistant Coaches to Rohr.

Now, the NFF has given stringent conditions if Rohr wants  to remain the National Team tactician.

Pinnick unveiled the conditions for the renewal of Rohr’s job, on Wednesday.  The  contract papers will be ready  for signing within a week.

The conditions  include that:

* He must reside in Nigeria,

*His salary will be paid in Naira

*He must watch league matches with a view to picking players that could be nurtured to become international stars.

Pinnick: “In one week, Rohr will get his contract, he should study his contract and come back to us. So, give and take, within seven days, he should have his contract,” Pinnick stated in an interview on Arise TV ‘Morning Show’.

“The only thing that can impede the contract is if he refuses some of our new clauses in the contract.

“Rohr should live in Nigeria and go around to watch the league matches and see how to nurture the players.

“He has to be paid in Naira; we will pay him Naira equivalent of the dollars; we have to strengthen our currency. If he’s able to accept, we have a deal.”

Pinnick, also, assured Nigerians that getting a new coach won’t be a challenge should Rohr decline the terms.

“I get calls every day from coaches that want to come here,” Pinnick added.

Reacting to the conditions given by the NFF, Rohr says he is ready to accept all the conditions as he is ready to continue working with the NFF and the National Team.

Rohr was appointed as Super Eagles Coach in 2016. Under him, Nigeria qualified for the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup.

His contract was renewed after the world showpiece, and he successfully guided the national team to Egypt 2019 African Cup of Nations, where Nigeria won the Bronze medal.

He is, now, just two wins away from qualifying the Super Eagles to the 2021 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon.