NFF Sacks Gernot Rohr, Appoints Eguavoen As Interim Super Eagles’ Coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has sacked Gernot Rohr as the coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The federation has subsequently named Augustine Eguavoen as the coach of the male senior national team on an interim basis.

These were announced in a statement issued by Ademola Olajire, Head of the NFF Communications Department, on Sunday.

Accoreding to the statement, the decision to fire the 64-year-old Rohr and appoint Eguavoen, a former coach of the team, was taken at a virtual meeting of the NFF Executive Committee on Sunday.

“The relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation and Mr Rohr has come to an end. We thank him for his services to the Super Eagles and Nigeria,” the statement quoted Mohammed Sanusi, General Secretary of the NFF, as saying.

“We also want to thank the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports for their collaboration and guidance all through.”

There had been much speculation about the status of Rohr as Super Eagles coach after the team laboured to a 1-1 draw against Cape Verde in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos in November 2021.

The Franco-German tactician had been in charge of the Nigerian national team since August 2016 and spent a period of five years, thereby making him the longest-serving coach of the team.

He led the country to the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia as well as the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations – where Nigeria finished third.

He recorded 28 wins out of 54 matches.

Eguavoen, a former Nigeria captain, was coach of the squad when it finished in third place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2006. He was on-field captain when the Super Eagles lifted the Africa Cup for the first time on away ground, in Tunisia 27 years ago.

According to the NFF, Eguavoen will work with Salisu Yusuf (Chief Coach); Paul Aigbogun (Assistant Coach); Joseph Yobo (Assistant Coach); Dr Terry Eguaoje (Assistant Coach) and Aloysius Agu (Goalkeeper Trainer).

Also, former Nigeria captains: Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu, and Garba Lawal have been appointed to provide technical and ambassadorial support for the crew.

“Cerezo”, as Eguavoen is popularly referred to, will now take charge of the team as it begins preparations for the 33^rd Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon 9^th January – 6^th February 2022, and until the appointment of a substantive Head Coach.