Unpaid salaries: Former Nigerian star advises NFF on how to motivate Rohr

The German tactician has not been paid for six months, with Nigeria’s football governing body citing lack of finances

Former Nigeria midfielder Henry Nwosu has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to motivate the Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr before the qualifying series for the 2022 FIFA World Cup start in September.

Rohr, who qualified Nigeria for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, is currently being owed six months’ salaries by NFF, while goalkeeper coach Alloy Agu is awaiting 22-months of unpaid wages.

Although the NFF has blamed the Covid-19 pandemic for their inability to meet up with the salaries of the Super Eagles technical crew, they have assured to settle every outstanding debt once things fall in place financially.

In an interview with Soccernet.ng, Nwosu advised the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF to ensure that they motivate Rohr by clearing some of his salaries before the commencement of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

He noted that the inability of the NFF to pay Rohr’s salaries might serve as a distraction to the team.

“The Nigeria Football Federation must take a very bold step to address the issue of Rohr’s salaries to avoid any form of distraction ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in September,” Nwosu said.

“Having six months of unpaid salaries doesn’t speak well for the football house, and they must be grateful to the German tactician who has been discharging his duty despite the whole issue.

“I quite understand that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the financial flow of the NFF, but they should try every possible best to motivate him,” Nwosu concluded.

Nonetheless, despite the unpaid salaries issue, Nigeria will take on Cameroon on June 4 in an international friendly.