Rohr’s Contract Update: NFF Blames Coronavirus For Renewal Delay

The Nigeria Football Federation has moved to clear the uncertainty surrounding the contract renewal of the Super Eagles head coach.

The Technical Director of the NFF Bitrus Bewarang has revealed that the football body has drawn up a new contract for Gernot Rohr, but for the coronavirus outbreak, the German tactician would have been back in the country to receive it.

Rohr, who was hired in August 2016, has a contract running through to July this year, but he is yet to be handed a new deal by the NFF.

While speaking to BBC’s Osasu Obayiuwana days ago, Rohr refuted rumours that he was already in talks with other countries, maintaining that he remains calm in the course of doing what he is paid to do.

The NFF initially planned to meet with the coach in February to conclude all contract matters, but the meeting was postponed.

Bewarang has now confirmed that the Nigeria Football Federation have concluded plans to offer the coach a new contract.

He, however, laid the blame for the contract delay at the doorstep of the coronavirus, the epidemic that has crippled football activities all over the world.

The epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak has moved from China to Europe. More than 2,000 people have died in Italy, while France, where Rohr resides, have closed its borders.

“It is unfortunate that we can’t do anything about the disaster. It is really unfortunate, but the truth of the matter is we cannot say anything about it (Rohr’s contract),” Bewarang told The Punch.

“From the NFF, what I can say is that we were ready to renew his contract, but now that France is one of the countries that have been shut down due to the coronavirus and we might not be seeing him (Rohr) for a while.

“So, we have to exercise patience with some of these things.”