The German gaffer was in charge of the Nigerian national team for over five years, leading the three-time African champions at the World Cup and the Afcon
After 64 months and 64 matches as head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr had his contract terminated by the Nigerian Football Federation a year before its expiration.
During his tenure, the former Girondins Bordeaux manager essentially deployed a conservative but uninspiring brand of football.
It proved effective in helping Nigeria qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations with a game to spare in each case.
But that sluggish style and lack of swagger ultimately cost him his job despite leading the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2021 Afcon and the playoff round of the 2022 World Cup.
Despite his obvious faults, Rohr did guide the Super Eagles from 67th on the FIFA world ranking when he took over to 36th and from number 13 in Africa to number five. He also guided the team to a bronze medal finish at Egypt 2019.
And Soccernet highlights the first eleven players crucial to Rohr’s success with the Eagles.
GK: Maduka Okoye
Rohr inherited Carl Ikeme from his predecessor Sunday Oliseh, but leukaemia forced the former Wolves man to retire from football early.
Rohr went from Daniel Akpeyi to Ikechukwu Ezenwa to Francis Uzoho and back to Akpeyi, but he was never convinced of their quality.
But Okoye seemingly rose from nowhere to become the Eagles’ undisputed number one, and the youngster may turn out to be Rohr’s best gift to Nigeria.
DF: Ola Aina, Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Jamilu Collins
Despite Kenneth Omeruo’s reputation as an Afcon winner, Rohr often preferred the centre-back pairing of Balogun and Ekong, and he backed the duo through thick and thin.
At fullback, the German tactician deployed Bryan Idowu, Tyronne Ebuehi, Zaidu Sanusi, Shehu Abdullahi, and Chidozie Awaziem at different times.
But Rohr convinced Aina to switch allegiance from England and play at either flank, while none was more dependable than Paderborn’s Collins.
MF: John Mikel Obi, Wilfred Ndidi
Rohr found Mikel Obi’s strong leadership qualities immeasurably valuable on and off the field, with the former Chelsea man crucial to Rohr’s early success until he retired at the end of the 2019 Afcon.
And any of Ogenyi Onazi or Oghenekaro Etebo would have easily slotted beside Mikel at the base of the midfield if Ndidi had not gone on to become one of the best in the world in that position.
FW: Victor Moses, Alex Iwobi, Ahmed Musa
It is almost heartbreaking to see Simon Moses miss out despite being one of Rohr’s favourite and most deployed wingers.
But Rohr built his team around Victor Moses back in the days leading to Russia 2018, and Alex Iwobi made the veteran gaffer too lazy to look for another creative midfielder for the Eagles.
Samuel Kalu and Samuel Chukwueze have paid their dues, but Ahmed Musa keeps this spot as captain and centurion.
ST: Odion Ighalo
Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and Simy Nwankwo had their chance but failed to take it. Victor Osimhen may have taken the shine away from many Nigerian strikers in recent times, but Ighalo’s story will probably define Rohr’s era.
The former Watford man led the goalscorer’s chart during the qualifying series of the 2019 Afcon and the tournament proper.
And Rohr was willing to risk his job to bring the Al Shabab striker back to the Eagles months after his retirement at the expense of more in-form forwards.
Ighalo, thus, takes the sole striker spot.
Rohr’s Best XI (4-2-3-1): Okoye; Aina, Balogun, Ekong, Collins; Mikel, Ndidi; Moses, Iwobi, Musa; Ighalo.
Totally agree Okoye may turn out to be Rohr best gift to Nigeria. If he (Okoye) remains focused. With age and time he will join the legion of best and undisputed goalkeepers in Africa. His skills and confidence are not in doubt
With the squad listed here, I am certain Nigeria will most likely lose all her group games by a margin of at least 2-0 irrespective of the team they face.
If we consider the fact that Rohr’s performance ìn five years has brought the GE’ so far,then this ìs not the best time to part ways with him.There are problems which could habe been ironed our by talking things over with Rohr and straighten things out with Rohr on the Job rather than parting ways with him at this crucial time.He has a vast wealth of experience in Football management,;aii that was needed was encouragement incentives on the job by providing him all he needed.For instance,why would anyone expect the best from an employee (coach) when you are owing him several months salary etc.We know what level things can get when it comes to finances and difficult bottle neck money payments in Nigeria. It is not,therefore , difficult to figure out the root of all the problems.
The NFF may decide to bring in the best Coach, but there no guarantee, that you will get the best out him,if the basis for satisfactory performance delivery is lacking.
Already, I can foresee that the first step approach smells of ä total failure in the sense that the NFF managers overlook the so-called White man’s mentality. Or whatever you may know it by: You sack one and bring in another!!
You are not dealing with Auto spareparts,but with human beings. Nigeria has always had world renowned Footballers but poor management by NFF frustrated them in many ways and therefore limited their performances at reaching their best.If people would think about what transpired in the past, many would agree with me on this point.
I still recall two instances: many years ago, the junior Eagles team that won the World Cup in Japan was selected and trained undercover,without being subjected to money troubles,tribalism and sectionalism and kickbacks.
The second was the team coached by the Holland man.
The then VP ,Admiral Aikhomu,personally invited him to his office and assured him that he would get direct support from the VP himself. So if he needed anything, he should come directly to him.
Today, we talk of the magic in Atlanta without remembering what made it all possible.
We have always had first class Football teams but the problems have always been NFF and money.
Clarke itama u go school u just finished wat shuld b said, c if nigeria like dey should go and plant dere own players and bring dem, wat will happen will happen as far as it concern NFF, all dis once., …… dem bad gan (destiny killers)