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NFF renew Gernot Rohr’s contract

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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday announced that it has concluded all contractual agreements with Gernot Rohr to remain the coach of the country’s national team.

“I’m happy to announce that the NFF and Coach Gernot Rohr have concluded all contractual discussions and he will stay on as Coach of the Super Eagles,” NFF president Amaju Pinnick said in a statement.

“We have always had confidence in his abilities and we are confident that the national team can only go higher from here.”

The German gaffer was first appointed Super Eagles coach in August 2016 in a three years contract after Sunday Oliseh was sacked by the NFF.

He won his first game in charge of the Nigerian national team with a 1 – 0 win over Tanzania in Uyo, Akwa Ibo State Nigeria.

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On 7 October 2017, he led Nigeria to become the first African side to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after a 1–0 win against Zambia. On 17 July 2019, Rohr led Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Since the country’s exit from the 2019 AFCON tournament in Egypt, talks about his contract renewal had hit the woodwork in separate times.

Rohr’s major criticism by many Nigerians was his alleged attitude to local players from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NFPL).

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His critics argued that there should be a mandatory clause to play local players in his new contract if renewed. It is, however, unknown if such condition was in the renewed contract.

Despite the many reasons stated by Rohr’s critics, Pinnick said he “never lost confidence in Gernot Rohr’s ability to take our football forward and I’m convinced our football will only get better from here on.”

Pinnick disclosed that qualification for the next World Cup in Qatar and winning the next AFCON competition are the conditions given to the Super Eagles coach.

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“In truth, these are sacrosanct and Coach Rohr is aware of these conditions. Like the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development has rightly noted; we are uncompromising in these goals,” Pinnick said.

“With the distraction of the contract talks out of the way now, we can now face our football on the pitch, totally.”

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Iheanacho included with 23 other players for AFCON qualifiers.

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Nigerian international, Kelechi Iheanacho has returned to the national football team after he was axed from the Super Eagles squad for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Iheanacho made the 24-man list released by the Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, on Wednesday, ahead of the quick-double 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone this month.

Rohr also called up for the first time, Germany–based defender, Kingsley Ehizibue, who plays for FC Koln, and Holland-based forward Cyril Dessers.

Team captain Ahmed Musa, Vice-captain William Ekong and defender Kenneth Omeruo made the list.

There are also goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, defenders Leon Balogun and Olaoluwa Aina, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forwards Alex Iwobi and Victor Osimhen in the list of three goalkeepers, eight defenders, five midfielders and eight forwards.

Nigeria currently sit top of Group L on six points, having won their first two matches.

The Super Eagles will play the first-leg game at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on Friday, 27th March, before flying to Freetown to confront the Stars at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in the return four days later.

The Super Eagles will also play Benin Republic in Porto Novo in June and a home tie against Lesotho in early September.

All invited players, as well as technical and administrative officials, are to report to camp on Monday, March 23, 2020.

See Full Squad List Below:

Goalkeepers: Daniel Akpeyi (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Heartland FC); Maduka Okoye (Fortuna Dusseldorf, Germany).

Defenders: Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Leon Balogun (Wigan Athletic, England); Chidozie Awaziem (CD Leganes, Spain); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kingsley Ehizibue (FC Koln, Germany).

Super Eagles (Team)

Midfielders: Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Etebo Oghenekaro (Getafe FC, Spain); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Glasgow Rangers, Scotland); Ramon Azeez (Granada FC, Spain).

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nassr, Saudi Arabia); Alexander Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Victor Osimhen (Lille OSC, France); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Cyril Dessers (Heracles Almelo, The Netherlands); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Kalu (Girondins Bordeaux, France).

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Sport Today

Rohr speaks to eagles over Sierra leone

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Barring any last minute alterations, the 23-man Super Eagles list for the March double header against Sierra Leone will be delivered by Coach Gernot Rohr on Monday March 2nd to the vault of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) before its announcement to the public.

The Super Eagles will host the West Africans in Asaba on March 23 before traveling to Freetown for the reverse fixture eight days later.

There have been huge speculations about who-and-who would be on the list following some spectacular performances by Nigeria’s legion of Europe-based professionals but the German coach has revealed why he’s holding out yet on the list.

“I am meeting some players in Europe before giving my list next Monday,” Rohr told NationSport yesterday.

Such parley with players is a normal routine in international football and Rohr would expectedly check on some players including in-form striker Victor Osimhen in his native France before making whistle stops at other destinations.

Though the 66-year-old former Bayern Munich defender was coy about some of the Super Eagles he would be visiting in the coming days, he made a notable mentioning of Heracles striker Cyriel Dessers.

The 24-year-old, who was born in Leuven to a Belgian father and qualifies for Nigeria through his mother, reportedly committed his international allegiance to the West African nation in December.

The burly striker is currently the Dutch league’s leading scorer with an impressive 17 goals in 26 appearances on the last count.

“Dessers are a very good player,” Rohr equally said. “He has a chance to be in the 23 (for the double header against Sierra Leone).”

Incidentally, Dessers recently enthused in an interview with the BBC Sports that it would be a dream come true if he’s considered good enough for the Super Eagles.

“Everyone in the family is hoping – and to be involved with Nigeria would be incredibly amazing for my career, but I’ve got to keep proving myself first,” Dessers reportedly said.

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Belgian, Cyriel Desserts says he wants to play for Nigeria Super eagles.

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…NFF welcomes the striker.

The Nigeria Football Federation Federation have officially accepted the proposal of Belgian born striker Cyriel Dessers to the Super Eagles after he declared himself available to play for Nigeria.

This comes days after the Dutch Eredivisie top scorer who plays as a striker for Heracles Almelo in Holland, made his intention clear to play for Nigeria.

The 24-year-old born to a Belgian dad and Nigerian mother who has 11 goals and 5 assists in 15 appearances for his club this season, said: “I have never been to Nigeria because of the political situation there. It was slightly better last year so I’ll be twice as happy if I can get an invite, even if it’s a friendly against Madagascar or Mauritius.”

After his public cry to Coach Gernot Rohr to invite him to play for Nigeria, the NFF made an official announcement on their official Twitter account, welcoming Cyriel Dessers.

“@CyrielDessers Eredivisie player of the month says he is open for @NGSuperEagles selection. #SoarSuperEagles #Team9jaStrong.

“ After a series of discussions with the NFF President Amaju Pinnick, I have decided to fully commit myself to Nigeria and the Super Eagles and I’m going to work to be part of the team and fight for more success for the country.”

“I am a proud Nigerian and I can’t wait to fulfill my dream of wearing the green-white-green,” the striker said in the statement.

NFF welcome Belgian born striker Cyriel Dessers to the Super Eagles after he declared himself available to play for Nigeria

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We’ve settled you – NFF president tells super eagles coach, Gernot rohr.

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…we pay you salary religiously.

Amaju Pinnick, the president of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has berated the action of the Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr to have accused the federation of owing him salary.

The German tactician had in a recent interview claimed that the NFF is currently owing him $100,000 in bonuses and allowances, a report that has been debunked by the federation.

Pinnick has cleared the air on the federation bill with Rohr in terms of payment of salaries. According to him,

“We don’t owe you (Rohr), you cannot come out to say that we owe you salary. We pay you, an employee, and you must respect the employer because we pay you salary religiously.”

Pinnick further advised the technical adviser to be mindful of his utterances in the media.

‘’If they pay you, you don’t come out to say they pay you. There are some things you don’t say.”

Rohr’s present contract is set to expire in June 2020.

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I will decide either to stay or leave next year January – Super eagles coach, Gernot rohr said.

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Nigeria

With just seven months left on his contract with the Nigeria Football Federation, Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, says he is looking at his options and hopes to have a meeting with NFF boss Amaju Pinnick in January to decide his Eagles future.

“The President of the Nigeria Football Federation has told me that we will sit down in January 2020 for a discussion and the conclusion of the extension of my contract, which runs out on the 30th of June,” Rohr told Insideworldfootball.

“To be very honest, I have enjoyed the last three years with the national team of Nigeria, because I can see the progress that I have made with the players over this period.”

“I think that I have the chance to do something with this group for the 2021 AFCON in Cameroon and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The players are young, disciplined and willing to learn. I am very happy with them and my staff. We have formed a strong team, a strong unit,” he said.

“But I am surprised that the federation is taking their time to conclude a contract. And to be honest, I am also surprised that when I was given a contract extension after qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, it was only extended until July 2020, which is right in the middle of qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. That is not normal and it is only the federation that can explain the reason for this.”

“According to the provisions of my current contract with Nigeria, I am free, from January 1st 2020, to enter into a pre-contract agreement with any club or national team, to start work with them on the first of July 2020. That is my right,” Rohr said.

“After the AFCON in Egypt, I was approached by some national teams but I made it clear that I was still under contract with Nigeria and was happy to continue with my work here.

“I will wait for my conversation with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation in January, when he says that we shall arrange a time to sit down and talk. We shall see what happens.

“While I have had a good time with my players and staff over the last three years, I have to say that relations with the administration have not been very easy, especially when it comes to the payment of my wages and that of the bonuses and allowances of my players and staff. There needs to be a lot more respect in this regard,” he said.

According to the former Girondins Bordeaux defender and manager, who coached the national teams of Niger, Gabon and Burkina Faso, before joining Nigeria in 2016, Rohr claims that he is owed close to $100,000 in bonuses and allowances by the NFF.

Jean-Jacques Bertrand, who served as the lawyer of Manchester United legend Eric Cantona, has been negotiating with the NFF on Rohr’s behalf to get the arrears paid.

“I preferred to get Jean-Jacques involved because it got to a stage that I didn’t want to be speaking to the federation about money all the time. It got tiring… I wanted to take my mind away from money and simply focus on my job and let him deal with the issues off the field,” Rohr said.

Nigeria, under Rohr, won a bronze medal at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and have made a strong start in the 2021 AFCON qualifying campaign, winning their first two matches against Benin Republic and Lesotho.

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Super Eagles Coach, Rohr Strives To Meet NFF’s Objectives For Contract Renewal..

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Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, is making efforts to ensure that his contract is renewed by the Nigeria Football Federation.

The renewal of Rohr’s contract has come under controversy as the NFF issued fresh conditions for extension.

Rohr’s contract expires in June 2020, and it was expected that talks on renewal should have commenced.

According to the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, the Eagles coach would be expected to monitor domestic games and be domiciled in Nigeria.

N.Rs gathered that the sports minister, Sunday Dare, also told Rohr to adhere to NFF’s condition during their meeting in Abuja last week.

Apart from asking Rohr to agree with NFF, Dare also told him that his (gaffer) contract extension would be determined by the NFF.

Though Rohr refused to reveal his discussion with Dare to journalists, he has started monitoring domestic matches after their meeting.

Immediately after the meeting in Abuja, Rohr travelled to Lagos to watch a Nigeria Professional Football League match between MFM and Warri Wolves at the Teslim Balogun Stadium.

Last weekend, the Franco-German watched the NPFL game between Enugu Rangers and Akwa Starlets at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

The 66-year-old, who expected that his contract would be renewed before December ending, said, “I have a lot I want to achieve. We can have a very good team for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. But we have to work hard together with all the relevant people in Nigeria.”

Rohr recently led the Eagles to two successful outings against Benin Republic and Lesotho in their 2021 AFCON qualifiers.

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