The Nigerian Football Federation finally ended their near five-and-a-half-year association with the former Gabon chief coach to draw mixed reactions from countrymen
The Nigeria Football Federation on Sunday announced that it had terminated the contract of Gernot Rohr as the Super Eagles coach.
The NFF also made public their decision to appoint former Nigerian international Augustine Eguavoen as the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles on an interim basis.
Among those named to work with Eguavoen is coach Salisu Yusuf, who recently returned from serving a ban for bribery. Ex-Enyimba International coach Paul Aigbogun also returns to the national team, previously handling the Flying Eagles.
However, Nigerians have reacted with mixed feelings to the development. Rohr had been facing criticisms for recent Super Eagles' uninspiring performances, and his sacking brought relief to some followers of the game in the country.
The German gaffer finished as the Super Eagles' longest-serving manager, spending 64 months in charge spread across 64 games.
In those matches, Rohr led the three-time African champions to 35 victories, 16 draws, and 13 losses with a 54.69 win percent.
The former Girondins Bordeaux manager helped Nigeria qualify for two Afcon tournaments and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. But fans want more than just qualifications: they want good football and the Afcon trophy.
And a section of those supporters is pleased to see the 68-year-old take the exit door.
“Gernot Rohr, the laziest football coach in the world has been sacked by his Nigerian employers!”
Gernot Rohr, the laziest football coach in the world has been sacked by his Nigerian employers! https://t.co/3tBYCTbEb1
— Frank Opara (@fopara03) December 12, 2021
“Yes! Gernot Rohr has been sacked!
But I still prefer Emmanuel Amunike to Austin Eguavon! Why is NFF so clueless?”
https://twitter.com/ifedapodaniel/status/1470125262989844486
“Now that Gernot Rohr has been sacked, I see super eagles winning the nations cup and maybe the world cup next year in Qatar.”
https://twitter.com/Tee_Classiquem1/status/1470142149404545031
“NIGERIA ARE PARTING WAYS WITH GERNOT ROHR?? TEARS IN MY EYES MAN WE ARE FINALLY GONNA COOK AGAIN”
https://twitter.com/AndzEmilio6/status/1470124495851696137
“Gernot Rohr was in charge of Nigeria for 5 years. Prolonged plumbing of the highest order.”
Gernot Rohr was in charge of Nigeria for 5 years. Prolonged plumbing of the highest order.
— Kenny Ally Mwambungu (@salimosaid) December 12, 2021
“Rohr's attitude to the Job is very annoying from the onset, he refused to stay in Nig. Only comes days to our matches and would never go watch local league.
He hasn't been able to move the team forward since after the World Cup…..It has been a lot time.”
Rohr attitude to the Job is very annoying from the onset, he refused to stay in Nig. Only comes days to our matches and would never go watch local league.
— Adebayor (@sunesis123) December 13, 2021
He hasn't been able to move the team forward since after the World Cup…..It has been a lot time
However, replacing Rohr with Eguavoen was the most shocking move on the chessboard for some fans. This is the third time the former Super Eagles captain will be in charge of a team, which he led to a third-place finish at the 2006 Afcon.
But many are not convinced of the quality of the former Bendel Insurance handler, who has never managed a team for more than two years.
“Replacing Rohr with Eguavoen makes 0 sense. Rohr was average not bad and he took our football to like 60% so they will be looking for an upgrade not taking us down.
We have a lot of Qualified local coaches that can do the job but they appointed a puppet to duly control him. Joke.”
Replacing Rohr with Equavoen makes 0 sense. Rohr was average not bad and he took our football to like 60% so they will be looking for an upgrade not taking us down.
— Buchi Laba (@Buchi_Laba) December 13, 2021
We have a lot of Qualified local coaches that can do the job but they appointed a puppet to duly control him. Joke
“Is Eguavoen even better than Rohr?”
Is Eguavoen even better than Rohr?
— 8:6teen (@6teenzy) December 13, 2021
“Rohr out Eguavoen in.. Replace Dino Melaye with Shehu sanni.. Covid 19 out, Omicron in!!!”
https://twitter.com/mamatee001/status/1470136749401726984
“Maybe after Austin Eguavoen, the NFF will appoint Christian Chukwu or the Modakeke high chief, Chief Festus Onigbinde. Since we love recycling coaches him. Nonsense.”
Maybe after Austin Eguavoen, the NFF will appoint Christian Chukwu or the Modakeke high chief, Chief Festus Onigbinde. Since we love recycling coaches him. Nonsense
— Mazi Olisaemeka C. ™ (@OlisaOsega) December 13, 2021
“Good move by @nff to sack Rohr but replacing him with Eguavoen is like selling a monkey to buy a chimpanzee.
I think it is time to try Amuneke or another foreigner with pedigree.”
Good move by @nff to sack Rohr but replacing him with Eguavoen is like selling a monkey to buy a chimpanzee.
— Ike Chris (@chicksdibia) December 13, 2021
I think it is time to try Amuneke or another foreigner with pedigree
The NFF and its president, Amaju Pinnick, have also not escaped the lashings of some Super Eagles lovers.
The football body has replaced Rohr with an unpopular candidate just 28 days to Cameroon 2021.
Fans are also miffed that the football body showed no sensitivity in promoting Salisu Yusuf, who was banned for bribery.
“There's a concern about the timing of this… did the NFF take too long? Thinking face With Less than 1 month to AFCON 2022, yesterday they confirmed the sack of Super Eagles Head coach Gernot Rohr and appointment of former Captain Augustine Eguavoen to replace him on an interim basis.”
https://twitter.com/FansTribeHQ/status/1470276356978077698
“Isn't this the same Salisu that collected bribe from an agent?
Eguavoen isn't even better than Rohr
Ffs why is the NFF doing Quota system with the super Eagles.”
Isn't this the same Salisu that collected bribe from an agent?
— Biological Cata (@BC_Slutyyy) December 13, 2021
Eguavoen isn't even better than Rohr
Ffs why is the NFF doing Quota system with the super Eagles. https://t.co/ZsiJeEW34J
“Sack Rohr 24 days to the AFCONs and then employ Eguavoen. Pinnick head don burn.”
Then don get liver sack Gernot Rohr last last….
— Clemence Eki, RCEA (@seangbems) December 13, 2021
“Then don get liver sack Gernot Rohr last last….”
Then don get liver sack Gernot Rohr last last….
— Clemence Eki, RCEA (@seangbems) December 13, 2021
“From Rohr to Eguavoen is like from frying pan to fire. Pinnick and corruption same Whatsapp group, Sunday Dare king of sports corruption.”
https://twitter.com/nwamgbeke/status/1470267443620855808
“They sacked Rohr finally….without a backup plan lol, one month to AFCON and they employed Egwavoin as interim…it took them one month to sack Rohr and still didn’t have a viable replacement waiting.”
https://twitter.com/jakov_coba/status/1470275344296939522
“NFF and Paul Aigbogun. Under Pinnick, nothing can separate them, even if the guy takes our football back to 16th Century.”
NFF and Paul Aigbogun. Under pinnick, nothing can separate them even if the guy takes our football back to 16th Century.
— DADA (@Ade15026) December 13, 2021
“They keep recycling failures … Abeg Pinnick tenure dey even expire??”
https://twitter.com/Nemerem_Ezeoka/status/1470239083175854080
“Amaju Pinnick is just a proper bellend cos what's this Eguaveon news?”
Amaju Pinnick is just a proper bellend cos what's this Eguaveon news?
— Oyèbísí (@bissybillz) December 13, 2021
The appointment of Eguavoen and his assistants takes effect immediately. The ex-Sharks chief's primary objective is to lead the Super Eagles to a podium finish at the 2021 Afcon, starting on January 9.
One thing is not okay with NFF by sacking Rhor and bringing other Rhor by Austin why Amuneke