Qatar 2022: Mixed Reactions Trail Nigeria’s Loss To CAR; Calls For Rohr’s Sack Persist

By Akinwale Kasali

Nigeria’s  Football fans, ex-internationals, soccer enthusiasts and analysts alike are calling for the sack of Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr.

The Franco-German tactician have been under strong criticism for the lackadaisical display of the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their previous matches. Thursday’s loss to lowly rated Central African Republic, CAR, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria in the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers was the limit.

Those asking for his sack allege that his tactical approach to games is  archaic; that the team isn’t coordinated; that since assumption of office as the Coach of the National team in 2016, there has  been no improvement.

His style of play has also been faulted.

Former Super Eagles striker, Yakubu Aiyegbeni  described Rohr as the worst coach Nigeria has ever had.

Aiyegbeni said some of the players invited by the Coach were not worthy to dorn the National team Jersey.

“The coach is not good enough, no clue. Gernot Rohr is one of the worst coaches in our history. He is not good enough.

“The NFF should let him go. He is responsible for the poor form of the Super Eagles team.

“Our football is getting worse everyday. When I was there, people criticise us, but we are way better than these ones”, he lamented.

In the same vein, Victor Ikpeba, another Ex- International and former African Footballer of the Year noted that the current generation of the team is bereft of creativity, calling for the sack of Rohr.

Soccer journalist, Biodun Alabi, said that the loss to Central African Republic is not pardonable.

“In recent history, the Eagles have had scandalous outings. A 2-0 loss to Madagascar at the last AFCON, a 4-4 home draw with Sierra Leone and yesterday’s (Thursday’s) disgrace against one of Africa’s minnows, Central Africa Republic. Even my 11 year-old son was shocked. I couldn’t provide him explanations.

“But to blame entirely the current Eagles generation for this shame is to scratch the issue. Many of them don’t deserve to be in the team, but they didn’t force themselves in. The story of today’s Eagles adequately explains the trajectory of Nigerian football in the hands of government and occupiers of the Federation House over the years.

“It is more saddening that the current NFF act as though nothing is wrong. Their arrogance against admitting to a collateral disaster Nigerian football has become nauseating. It has never been this bad.

“Even with a resounding win in the reverse leg in Cameroon, the blot has been etched. More of this experience will come if the real issues are still being glossed over”, he said.

Amos Ahmed Adeshina, a soccer enthusiast said the match against Central African Republic was repulsive, and was a big disgrace to the entire Super Eagles team.

He, also, demanded for immediate sack of Rohr.

“If Rohr was to be a Nigerian, he would have been sacked. If not that the Amaju Pinnick NFF has a hidden agenda and some secrets, why would Rohr still be the Coach? He is tactically poor and lacks the technical know as a coach”, he said.