The German tactician continues to divide opinions following a forgettable year in charge of the Nigerian national team
Two of Nigerian football's most iconic stars Austin Okocha and Daniel Amokachi, have shared differing views about the performance and future of Super Eagles' Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr.
While former Everton forward Amokachi is not impressed with the German gaffer's handling of the senior team, compatriot and ex-PSG ace Okocha has lauded and backed the former Gabon coach to continue leading the three-time African champions.
Criticisms and calls for Rohr's sack increased in recent days after the coach led Nigeria to two disappointing draws against Sierra Leone within a week – one of which saw the Super Eagles squander a four-goal lead to draw 4-4.
With Nigeria not winning a single game in 2020 since Rohr signed a two-year contract extension, former Super Eagles assistant coach Amokachi believes the German has not done enough to keep his job and should be sacked.
“The person in charge has been there for five years already, but there is nothing to write home about,” Amokachi told Brila FM, as per the Nation.
“Is he the right person to take the country forward? In my opinion, I don’t think so because five years is a lot for a coach to say he’s building a team, and then he can’t give you starting eleven?
“We have also seen some decisions that a right coach wouldn’t have made, and a coach that doesn’t take the backroom staffs along end up having big problems.
“But then Nigerians know he’s not the right person to take Nigerian football forward,” Amokachi submitted.
But Okocha, arguably Nigeria's greatest ever footballer, is convinced that Rohr has made positive impacts on the national team, considering where he met the team when he was hired four years ago.
Rohr took over a Super Eagles that could not qualify for two consecutive AFCON tournaments in 2015 and 2017 and guided it to a third-place finish at Egypt 2019.
“For now, I will score him seven out of 10 because when he came in, things were not steady, and he has steadied the ship now,” Okocha said on Brila FM, as per Completesports.
“He inherited an abandoned team, and so for now, he is following his own direction. He has created his own team.
“But we all know football is about results, of course, if the results don’t go his way our people will criticise him, you know everybody in Nigeria is a coach.
“But if results go his way, of course, we will praise him. Even if you are the best coach, if you don’t get results, you will be under pressure.”
When asked about Rohr’s contract extension, the former Bolton Wanderers star backed the NFF move.
“I’m in support of the contract extension because for every country to be successful, you need continuity, and you need direction.
“But if we keep hiring and firing, we wouldn’t be able to build the team. So I believe it’s a good step. It’s just for the results to improve,” Okocha concluded.
