Sports

Gernot Rohr’s Sack: Uncertainty As Nigeria Search For New Coach

Published

2 years ago

December 13, 2021

The Franco-German is no longer the Super Eagles head coach, following a virtual meeting of the NFF Executive Committee on Sunday.

But it feels Rohr should have been gone since 2018, after Nigeria failed to qualify from their World Cup group. The team needed a draw against Argentina to progress. Somehow, they conceded a late goal and duly crashed out.

Another good time to have sacked him, was after the 4-4 draw with Sierra Leone in November 2020. Rohr’s men threw away a four-goal lead, a result that NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, described as the worst under his tenure.

Yet, Pinnick didn’t act.

The Leone Stars also held the Super Eagles to a 0-0 draw in Freetown. It essentially meant the three-time African champions failed to win a single game throughout 2020.

However, the writing was on the wall, after Nigeria lost 2-1 to the Central African Republic (CAR) and drew with Cape Verde during their 2022 World Cup qualifying series.

After the Cape Verde game at home, Rohr was advised to resign. He declined.

The last few weeks, has seen the NFF in talks with the 68-year-old’s camp over the termination of his contract and negotiating his pay-off.

NFF Technical Director, Augustine Eguavoen, will now take charge of the team, as they prepare for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations is Cameroon.

Eguavoen will work with Salisu Yusuf, Paul Aigbogun, Joseph Yobo, Dr Terry Eguaoje and Aloysius Agu.

However, the NFF have made it clear he is working with the team temporarily.

The big question then is: will the football house plump for a local coach like Emmanuel Amuneke or Sunday Oliseh? Or will inferiority complex force them to scout around for another incompetent white man?

This uncertainty does not help the Super Eagles. They have a major tournament to prepare for in a few weeks. There is also the matter of the World Cup play-offs in January.

Since the NFF had finally taken the decision to fire Rohr, they should have had a replacement on standby. This is not club football, where you have a lot of matches to instill a playing style or redeem bad results.

Whatever happens in the coming weeks, analysts believe the first good decision has been made by sacking Rohr.

Sports

Super Eagles Stars, Calvin Bassey And Alex Iwobi Caught On Camera Shopping Together In London

Published

1 day ago

May 1, 2024

Editor

Super Eagles stars, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi were spotted shopping together at a store in London.

The Nigerian internationals play for Fulham FC in the Premier League.

View this post on Instagram
Advertisement
A post shared by Lindaikejiblog (@lindaikejiblogofficial)

Sports

10 Facts About New Super Eagles Coach, Finidi George

Published

4 days ago

April 29, 2024

Editor

The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday announced the appointment of former Super Eagles winger Finidi George as the new head coach of the nation’s senior men’s national team.

The announcement came in a statement, with the NFF Board approving the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to hand over the reins to the 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis forward.

The new Super Eagles boss’s immediate task will be to guide the team to victory in two crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan, respectively, within the next five weeks.

However, takes a look at 10 things about Finidi George as compiled by The PUNCH.

1.⁠ ⁠Finidi George was born on April 15, 1971, in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

2.⁠ ⁠⁠He played as a right winger and was known for his pace, accurate crosses, efficient dribbling, and free-kick abilities. He played for three clubs in Nigeria including Calabar Rovers and Sharks of Port Harcourt.

3.⁠ ⁠⁠George had a successful club career with Ajax, winning 8 major titles including the 1995 Champions League.

4.⁠ ⁠⁠He also played for Real Betis in Spain, nearly joining Real Madrid before that move fell through.

5.⁠ ⁠⁠George spent one season with Mallorca and then joined Ipswich Town in the Premier League for £3.1 million in 2002.

6.⁠ ⁠⁠He made his international debut for Nigeria in 1991 and earned 62 caps, appearing at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

7.⁠ ⁠⁠George won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations with Nigeria and helped them reach the round of 16 at the 1994 World Cup.

8.⁠ ⁠⁠At the 1994 World Cup, he scored against Greece and celebrated with a famous ‘urinating dog’ celebration.

9.⁠ ⁠⁠He has 11 brothers, two of whom (Igeniwari and Celestine) were also professional footballers.

10.⁠ ⁠⁠In September 2021, George was appointed head coach of Nigerian club Enyimba F.C. and won the Nigeria Premier League with them in June 2023.

Sports

JUST IN: Finidi George Appointed New Super Eagles Head Coach

Published

4 days ago

April 29, 2024

Editor

The Nigeria Football Federation has appointed former Super Eagles winger Finidi George as the new head coach of the nation’s senior men’s national team.

The announcement came in a statement on Monday, with the NFF Board approving the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to hand over the reins to the 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis forward.

Finidi George, who spent 20 months as an assistant to the outgoing José Santos Peseiro, had been serving as the interim coach after the Portuguese tactician’s departure following the Super Eagles’ impressive run to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

During his interim tenure, George oversaw two friendly matches in Morocco last month, where the team ended an 18-year winless streak against Ghana with a 2-1 victory before suffering a 0-2 loss to Mali.

“George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged as the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals,” the NFF statement read.

Reflecting on his illustrious playing career, the statement highlighted George’s achievements, which include “gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.”

One of George’s most memorable moments came when he “assisted Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994,” the statement noted.

The NFF statement emphasised that “the matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.”