Rohr Is Not World-Class – AFCON Legend, Odegbami

The former Bordeaux manager has previously handled the national teams of Niger, Gabon, and Burkina Faso but the former AFCON winner insists he is not the best fit for the three-time African champions

Two-time top-scorer at the African Cup of Nations tournament, Segun Odegbami has taken a swipe at Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr, insisting that the Franco-German tactician is not a world-class gaffer.

Rohr has been in charge of the national team since 2016 and has guided the side to the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 AFCON.

The Super Eagles could not make it past the group stage at the Mundial in Russia only to then finish third in Egypt after falling to eventual winners, Algeria, at the semifinal stage.

Rohr was adjudged to have performed creditably, and the 66-year-old coach had his contract extended a few weeks ago until the end of the next World Cup in Qatar.

Legendary forward Odegbami is puzzled that Nigeria would boast of former world-class players but will continue to hand coaching jobs to average minds with no outstanding track records.

“I don’t think any white coach should come and coach us (Nigeria) anymore, not after the generation of Stephen Keshi, Sunday Oliseh, Jay Jay Okocha, who played at every level,” Odegbami told the Daily Trust.

“If they can get the basic qualification which is not essential in my own estimation, but people insist that they must have it, they are qualified.

“Finidi George and Emmanuel Amuneke have the qualifications Gernot Rohr does not have.”

As per his new contract, Rohr has been given the target of guiding the Super Eagles to win the 2021 Africa Nation’s Cup to be hosted by Cameroon.

He is also tasked with qualifying the three-time African champions to the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar; an assignment Odegbami maintains only a Nigerian would be passionate about.

“A Nigerian should take Nigeria to the World Cup because a foreigner does not understand our football philosophy and psychology.

“My belief is that anyone who will coach the Super Eagles must be a world-class coach. Rohr can’t deliver that.

“He’s not a world-class coach that we are looking for without question.”

Rohr has been in football management for thirty years, but he’s yet to lead a team to any title triumph.