The unhealthy relationship between the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), and the national team coach, Gernot Rohr, came to an abrupt end last weekend.
Rohr, who has been in charge of the senior national team, Super Eagles, for over five years, is Nigeria’s longest serving coach. His predicament started following the team’s repeated failures in both CAF and FIFA tournaments.
The Franco-German technician was hired in August 2016 to revive the Nigerian team that has been depleted since it won the African Cup of Nations in 2013. But instead of improving, the national team has sunk lower in Africa and world FIFA ranking.
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Against this backdrop, the clamor for Rohr’s sack by football-loving Nigerians has been ringing for long, but the NFF was indecisive due to the severance cost. Now, the Federation has accepted the financial consequence of letting the German go.
“The relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation and Mr. Rohr has come to an end. We thank him for his services to the Super Eagles and Nigeria.
“We also want to thank the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports for their collaboration and guidance all through,” General Secretary of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said.
The NFF also announced the appointment of former Super Eagles player, Augustine Eguavoen, currently its Technical Director, as the interim Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles.
In addition, the NFF Executive decided that Eguavoen will work with Salisu Yusuf (Chief Coach); Paul Aigbogun (Assistant Coach); Joseph Yobo (Assistant Coach); Dr Terry Eguaoje (Assistant Coach) and Aloysius Agu (Goalkeeper Trainer). Former Nigeria captains Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Garba Lawal have been appointed to provide technical and ambassadorial support for the crew.
While the replacement of Rohr is believed to be long-overdue, the appointment of Eguavoen is stirring fresh concerns. He will be in charge of Super Eagles’ preparations for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon 9th January – 6th February 2022, and until the appointment of a substantive Head Coach.
Eguavoen is thus inheriting a critical mission to ensure that the Nigerian national team qualifies for the 2022 World Cup playoff. But given the limited time at his disposal and how wobble the team has become, he will need more than the average technique to accomplish the mission. Eguavoen, a former Nigeria captain, had been at the helm before and his performance was criticized.
In 2006 in Egypt, Eguavoen led the Nigerian squad to third place at the Africa Cup of Nations, a performance that did not augur well with Nigerians. With Eguavoen’s past record as a coach under criticism, Super Eagles chances of winning the 2022 AfCON are in doubt. However, there is hope that the NFF will find a suitable coach, who will lead the team to AfCON and World Cup, on time.