Nigerians Worry Over Delay In Renewing Rohr’s Contract; Say It Is A Distraction

By Akinwale Kasali

When Gernot Rohr was appointed Coach of the National Team, the Super Eagles in 2016, he was saddled with the responsibility of qualifying the team for 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and 2019 African Cup of Nations Championship in Egypt.

Though, his appointment was criticised following the shrouded secrecy that enveloped it, and the ability of  Rohr to guide a team like Nigeria, which  has failed to appear at two consecutive AFCON tournaments.

Like a man ready to put his critics wrong, Rohr hurriedly assembled a Young national team , which  against all odds proved critics and bookmakers wrong, becoming the first nation in the Continent to book a place at the global fiesta, brushing aside top rated African teams like Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia.

Rohr passed and fulfilled the contractual agreement in his papers, qualifying the nation, but failed to go beyond the first round at the World Cup.

He picked up the pieces, qualifying the nation for the 2019 AFCON tournament,though, he started on a losing note, experiencing his first competitive defeat at the Uyo International Stadium in Akwa Ibom to the Bafana of South Africa, but still went ahead to top the group.

At the African showpiece, Nigeria returned home with the bronze medal, finishing third after losing to Algeria 2-1 in the semi final.

His selection at the tournament was criticised, specifically against Algeria. But he was able to weather  the storm, inspite of the calls for his sack and non renewal of his contract.

His claim of being owed by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, when he granted a foreign media house interview, also, sparked outrage from the NFF which  criticised his actions.

He remained steadfast and never relented in actualising his dream of taking the nation to the pinnacle of soccer.

He has won two matches against Lesotho and Benin Republic at the ongoing 2021 AFCON qualifiers, sitting atop the log.

Yet, the NFF is yet to renew his contract with the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Club qualifiers beginning this year, and the 2021 AFCON qualifiers getting more intense.

Soccer analysts, ex-internationals, soccer enthusiasts and bookmakers are of the opinion that the NFF needs to tidy up its house in ensuring that the team does not lose focus in the forthcoming qualification matches by tidying up the contractual agreement it has with the Franco-German tactician.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph, says the NFF needs to renew Rohr’s  contract, so he could brace up to the challenges ahead.

“The team needs to have a focus and roadmap in actualising and prosecuting the matches ahead of it, with the NFF signing the dotted lines for Rohr’s Contract renewal”.

Segun Agbede, a veteran soccer analysts is of the opinion that the NFF needs to set the ball rolling by reaching an agreement with Rohr as regards his contract.

“We need to be proactive to attain success, the NFF needs to renew Rohr’s Contract so that he can be at peace and work effectively, because presently his fate hangs in the balance”.