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Tag: Gernot Rohr

  • I didn’t reject any apartment – Rohr

    I didn’t reject any apartment – Rohr

    Nigeria technical adviser, Gernot Rohr, has refuted claims that he rejected the apartment given to him by the Nigeria Football Federation.

    Rohr began his Super Eagles spell with a 1-0 win over Tanzania in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo. And having agreed to reside in the country before landing the job, the Franco- German said it would have been unwise of him to reject his accommodation.

    “I never rejected any apartment,” Goal quoted Rohr as saying on the NFF website.

    “I might have spoken to a few people who I believed to be genuinely interested in me, saying that the apartment was very big and I joked that I might get lost inside it when I start to live there, but I never rejected it.

    “When the federation engaged me, and told me I had to live in Nigeria, I agreed to it because I believed that my base has to be in the country where I work. I did the same in Niger, Burkina Faso and Gabon, and I do not see it any differently in Nigeria.

    “The federation moved to rent an apartment for me, and this is a good gesture that shows their commitment. If I have issues with it, it should be done directly through the federation and not on the pages of the media.”

  • Rohr picks Kalaba, Sunzu as Zambia key players

    Rohr picks Kalaba, Sunzu as Zambia key players

    Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has picked skipper Rainford Kalaba and France-based Stoppila Sunzu as the players to watch when Nigeria visits Zambia for next month’s World Cup qualifier.

    Nigeria opens its 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign on October 3 in Zambia.

    Rohr said he has good information on the former African Nations Cup (AFCON) champions.

    “They (Zambia) have some really good players – Kalaba is the best. He scores goals always for the team and I also know Sunzu very well because he plays in France,” africanFootball.com quoted Rohr as saying during a visit to the Secretary General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mohammed Sanusi, in Abuja.

    He assured that Super Eagles will prepare very well for the World Cup qualifiers because “we have to be in Russia.”

    “We will need all our best players to be at their very best,” he said.

    “We had a good list for the Tanzania match but a couple of players were injured and we will like to look at those ones as well.

    “The focus is to strengthen the spine of the team and ensure we can beat any team.

    “The confidence has not been there because the team failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. But when results start to come, the confidence will return.”

    Sanusi pledged full support for the coach and his backroom staff.

    “We have immense confidence in you and your staff. We will not dabble into your technical area,” he said.

    “Our responsibility is to provide the right atmosphere to make you succeed. We see that you are a gentleman but will not take your simplicity for granted.”

     

  • Rohr must start on a winning note – Dosu Joseph

    Rohr must start on a winning note – Dosu Joseph

    Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph, has said he expects the new Super Eagles technical adviser, Gernot Rohr, to use Saturday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania to fine tune strategies ahead 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers starting in October.

    The three-time African champions will host the Taifa stars at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium to wrap up the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.

    And the Atlanta ’96 Olympics gold medalist asked the German to start on a winning note to win the fans’ heart.

    “Well, this is the coach’s first game as the Super Eagles technical adviser, and this game whether inconsequential to not, is a game he would want to win to start on a good note, mind you the fans are watching to see what he has to offer the team, the players will also want to win this game to show the coach what they can offer,” Dosu told Goal.

    “Whether Tanzania fields its national U-17 team or not is none of our concern, the most important is that we use the game to prepare for the World Cup qualifier against Zambia, which is in a month time, and the new coach understands he has a big task on his hands.

    “To be the best, you have to beat the best. So, Nigeria cannot expect to be in Niger Republic’s group and expect to be called the best, being drawn in the same group with Zambia, Cameroon and Algeria should bring out the best in us.”

     

  • Rohr checks Eagles fitness with Akwa United game

    Rohr checks Eagles fitness with Akwa United game

    Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, will use a test game against Nigeria premier league club Akwa United to ascertain the fitness of his players and also gauge the technical demands of the match venue.

    A team official told africanFootball.com that Wednesday’s friendly against Akwa United is at the instance of the Eagles coach.

    “Rohr said he wishes to fully ascertain the match fitness of his call-ups as well as have a practical measurement of the size of the pitch of the Akwa Ibom International Stadium.”

    Rohr has called up 23 players comprising mostly foreign based players like Chelsea’s Mikel Obi and Victor Moses as well as Ahmed Musa and Ogenyi Onazi.

    Saturday’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania will be Rohr’s first match in charge of Nigeria.

  • Amuneke hails Osimhen Eagles’ invitation

    Amuneke hails Osimhen Eagles’ invitation

    Nigeria U-20 coach, Emmanuel Amuneke has commended Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, for handing Victor Osimhen his first-ever call-up, saying the Wolfsburg-bound youngster is the future of Nigeria football.

    The 17-year-old Osimhen was record top scorer at last year’s FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile and has since featured for both Nigeria U-20 and U-23 teams.

    He was named in a 23-man squad for next month’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania in Uyo.

    “It’s a good thing that the coach picked Victor. He is a growing talent who is blessed with abundant talent. He is the future,” africanFootball.com quoted the former Barcelona forward as saying on Osimhen’s invitation to the Super Eagles.

    “He will learn from other established strikers in the Super Eagles and that will quicken his growth.

    “In more developed footballing countries that is how you bring in your young players.”

    “Young players like Victor and Kelechi (Nwakali, who has signed for Arsenal) are the future Super Eagles and with time Nigeria will be proud of their immense talent.”

  • Rohr invites Olympics stars, Osimhen for Tanzania clash

    Rohr invites Olympics stars, Osimhen for Tanzania clash

    Super Eagles manager, Gernot Rohr, has invited six players from the Dream Team VI campaigning in the ongoing Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for next month’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania.

    The Franco-German coach overlooked the Olympics team leading scorer, Oghenekaro Etebo, for the match slated for September 3 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    Germany- based Victor Osimhen, who is expected to sign a professional contract with Wolfsburg in January, was handed a surprise call up by Rohr, africanFootball.com reports.

    Members of the U-23 team listed for the AFCON qualifier are – Emmanuel Daniel, William Troost-Ekong, Shehu Abdullahi, Kingsley Madu, Mikel Obi and Imoh Ezekiel.

    Porto FC defender, Chidozie Awaziem, was also invited after missing May’s friendlies against Mali and Luxembourg in Europe.

    The full squad:

    Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Emmanuel Daniel (Enugu Rangers); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah).

    Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Troost-Ekong (Haugesund FC, Norway); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); Jamiu Alimi (Kano Pillars); Abdullahi Shehu (Uniao da Madeira, Portugal); Musa Muhammed (Istanbul Basaksehir, Turkey); Elderson Echiejile (AS Monaco, France), Kingsley Madu (AS Trencin, Slovakia).

    Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (KRC Genk, Belgium); Nosa Igiebor (Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel).

    Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Imoh Ezekiel (Al-Arabi Sporting Club, Qatar), Odion Ighalo (Watford FC, England); Brown Ideye (Olympiacos FC, Greece); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany).

  • Rohr to storm Nigeria with three assistants

    Rohr to storm Nigeria with three assistants

    New Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, will resume work in Nigeria with three personal assistants, AfricanFootball.com reports.

    The assistants include an adviser, a video analyzer and a fitness trainer.

    “Rohr will be in Nigeria with three assistants handpicked by him. They are an adviser, who the coach has made very clear is not an assistant coach, a fitness trainer and a video analyzer,” a top team official told AfricanFootball.com.

    “We want to believe he will pick up the expenses of these assistants.”

    The Franco-German coach has signed a two-year contract to qualify Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

     

  • Rohr shortlists Troost-Ekong, Mohammed for World Cup qualifiers

    Rohr shortlists Troost-Ekong, Mohammed for World Cup qualifiers

    Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has penciled down the duo of William Troost-Ekong and Musa Mohammed for the 2018 World Cup qualifiers starting in October.

    A top official told africanFootball.com that Troost-Ekong and Musa Mohammed are among the defenders the newly appointed Eagles technical adviser will consider for the World Cup qualifiers.

    “He has mentioned the names of some of the players he is counting on for the qualifiers and some of them will be called up for the African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania in Port Harcourt.”

    Norway-based Troost-Ekong is currently leading the defence line of Nigeria U-23 team at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    The central defender, who was eligible to represent Holland by virtue of his Dutch mother, debuted for Nigeria in the AFCON qualifier against Chad last year.

    Mohammed, on the other hand, made his long-awaited Eagles’ debut against Mali in May.

    He also featured in Nigeria 3-1 win over Luxembourg that same month.

     

  • How Rohr’s salaries will be paid – Pinnick

    How Rohr’s salaries will be paid – Pinnick

    The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, on Tuesday explained how the salaries of new Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, will be paid by the federation.

    Rohr signed a two-year contract to manage the Super Eagles on Tuesday.

    Pinnick, in a YouTube interview, said a yet-to-be-named oil company has agreed to bankroll the new coach salaries.

    “For transparency and accountability, this sponsor will pay money to the NFF financial consultants, Financial Derivatives, who will then pay the coach,” africanFootball.com quoted the NFF supremo as saying during the interview.

    “Financial Derivatives, headed by Bismark Rewane, a man of impeccable character, will interface with the sponsor. The NFF will not pay the coach directly.”

  • Nigeria’s job a big challenge – Rohr

    Nigeria’s job a big challenge – Rohr

    The newly appointed Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, has described his new job as “a big challenge.”

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday announced that the German has signed a two-year contract to work as technical adviser of the Super Eagles.

    The 63-year-old first assignment will be September African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifier against Tanzania.

    “I am enthusiastic to get to work. This is a big challenge because Nigeria has big players everywhere and has the ability to do well internationally,” supersport.com quoted the ex- Burkina Faso coach as saying after his appointment was confirmed by the NFF.

    “I have a German heart – the heart of a winner. I have confidence that with the right atmosphere and the right support, the Super Eagles have the capacity not only to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, but get to the latter stages of the competition.”

    NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, said he is excited the federation has secured a new manager for the Super Eagles and wants to focus on the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers starting in October.