Gernot Rohr Speaks On Joseph Yobo’s Super Eagles Appointment

The Super Eagles head coach has faulted the decision of the football body to replace one of his assistants with the Nigeria legend.

German tactician Gernot Rohr is not impressed with the decision of the Nigeria Football Federation to sack Enugu Rangers coach, Imama Amapakabo.

Amapakabo was relieved of his post following his disappointing spell with the U-23 team and home-based Eagles.

The appointment of one of Nigeria’s greatest ever players, Joseph Yobo, as the new assistant manager of the Nigeria national team was announced on Wednesday.

Yobo made 101 appearances for the Super Eagles, making him the country’s joint-record caps holder with goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

But Rohr has suggested that the 39-year-old, who captained Nigeria to her third Africa Cup of Nations title in 2013, may not be qualified for the job as he is yet to acquire any coaching certificate.

The former Bordeaux manager acknowledged the NFF’s statutory power to hire and fire but expressed his displeasure at the dismissal of a coach who worked well with him.

“The NFF has the right to pick one assistant coach for my staff, so they are the ones to communicate the reasons for the appointment, not myself,” Rohr told BBC journalist Osasu Obayiuwana.

“I was informed by Amaju Pinnick, in a telephone call, before it was made public. I don’t know why Amapakabo has been removed. I worked very well with him. He did a very good job with me.

“I regret his departure. But since the NFF have the right to take this decision, there is nothing that I can do about it,” he added.

On Yobo’s appointment, the Franco-German did not mince his words: “I have the responsibility to develop coaches from Nigeria as agreed with NFF. I am more than happy to do that.

“Joseph Yobo is welcome to the team, of course. I have heard that he has no coaching diplomas, so I will talk to him about this.

“If what I have heard is correct, I will tell Yobo that he needs to do the training required to grow as a coach.”

The former Everton defender represented the country at the 2002, 2010 and 2014 World Cups.