Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr’s future with the national team “is hanging in the balance” after the side’s 0-0 stalemate against Sierra Leone in Freetown on Tuesday, a sports ministry source has told The PUNCH.
The three-time African champions threw away a four-goal lead to draw 4-4 against the Sierra Leone in the first of their double-header 2021 AFCON qualifiers last Friday in Benin City, before Tuesday’s stalemate on Tuesday.
The result means that Nigeria will have to wait till match-day 5 of the AFCON qualifiers against Benin Republic to stand a chance of qualifying for the tournament.
Angry fans called for Rohr’s dismissal after the first leg, with the sports ministry, in a statement, advising the Nigeria Football Federation to begin the process of relieving the Franco-German of his position as the Eagles coach.
However, with Tuesday’s stalemate, Rohr remains on the hot seat, our source said.
The PUNCH learnt that the coach may not be given the boot immediately following legal procedures involved in terminating his two-year contract with the national team.
But it was learnt the coach’s fate would be decided Friday after an assessment of the games against the Leone Stars.
When asked if Rohr would be given the boot, our ministry source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “His fate is in the balance. A full technical report of the two matches will be submitted by Friday.
“After that, a decision in the best interest of Nigerian football will be taken.”
Meanwhile, fans have again called for Rohr’s sack as Eagles gaffer after the team’s result in Freetown.
Immediately after the game in Freetown, fans took to Twitter to call for the sack of the Franco-German.
Oluwabamigbe Bello said, “Rohr should pack his bags and go. Serious teams like Senegal, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria; watch out for these teams at the Nations Cup.”
El-faruq Umar tweeted, “I’m waiting to hear the sacking of Gernot Rohr from NFF before players start arriving. Our country is better than what you think because how would you play six defenders and expect to win the match #Sack Gernot Rohr.”
“Rohr has to go, his tactical deficiency is alarming, to say the least,” an angry John Atu tweeted.
A Twitter handle with the name AwareNess added, “Rohr must be sacked because this man can’t get us the AFCON or any trophy. Musa playing 90mins while Ejuke is on the bench.”
