Pressure continues to mount on the Nigeria Football Federation to fire Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, The Vent Republic reports.
Rohr’s tactics in recent times have infuriated fans, stakeholders and ex-internationals, who have clamoured for the dismissal of the Franco-German as the Eagles manager.
On Tuesday, against Cape Verde in their Qatar 2022 World Cup Group C final qualifier fixture at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, the Eagles put up an underwhelming performance, as the team survived a nervy finish to the encounter, with the visitors emabrking on a late onslaught, but it was too little too late, as the Eagles qualified for the play-offs as group winners.
Immediately after the game, fans were left unconvinced by the performance of the team and Rohr’s conservative approach, and once again called for the sack of the Franco-German tactician.
The Chief Whip of the Senate and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, on Thursday wrote on his Facebook page that Rohr was not good and should be replaced.
“In the last five years, we have wasted our time in football. There is nothing new we are doing any longer.
“To see a country with many professional players home and abroad struggling to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup is heartbreaking.
“Gernot Rohr is not a good coach and I don’t understand why he is still managing Super Eagles.
“When I Was Governor (Abia State), he (Rohr) applied to become employed as Enyimba coach. He was brought to Nigeria by Oscar Udoji, but I refused to employ him.”
Former England striker of Nigerian descent John Fashanu also said Rohr should have been sacked long before now.
“I do not agree with my fellow Nigerians who are just coming out to say this man (Rohr) should be sacked now because, for me, he should have been sacked a long time ago,”
“For us to get to where we want to get, I don’t think Rohr is the best man for the job because our football is drowning.”
Atlant ‘96 Olympic Games gold medallist, Abiodun Obafemi, added, “This is not the first time we have been saying this and when I say we, I am referring to football-loving Nigerians, Rohr has not added anything to the Eagles since he took over.
“As far as I am concerned, he is one of the worst coaches Nigeria has ever had and I think it is time we moved on because this man doesn’t understand the passion Nigerians have for football.
“We lost the little prestige we had in Africa when Central African Republic came to Lagos and beat us. Now, we couldn’t even pick up a win against Cape Verde.”
Rohr also confirmed to some journalists that he was approached by the federation to tender his resignation letter.
He said: “Not yet, but that’s what they want me to do,” when asked if he had been sacked by the NFF.
Meanwhile, despite the calls for Rohr’s sack, the NFF, in a statement on Thursday, said Rohr remained the Eagles coach contrary to reports circulating around.
“The Board of the NFF is studying the report of the Technical Committee, which is submitted after the match against Cape Verde in Lagos on Tuesday. There are a number of possibilities but we have not taken a decision to sack Gernot Rohr. I want to assure you that whatever decision is eventually taken will be one that will please the generality of Nigerians.
“Mr Rohr has a contract with the NFF and there is a procedure for disengagement. If we get to that bridge, both parties will look at the contract and see what has to be done both ways. The Super Eagles squad is a national asset and we are just fortunate to be in that space to make decisions. Any decision we take must be what will be acceptable to Nigerians from far and near.”