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Tag: Gernot Rohr

  • Rohr congratulates Chelle on ‘difficult’ Eagles job

    Rohr congratulates Chelle on ‘difficult’ Eagles job

    German coach Gernot Rohr believes the newly appointed Super Eagles coach Eric Sékou Chelle already has his work cut out as Nigeria grapple with qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

    While congratulating the Franco-Malian coach, Rohr said Chelle faces a daunting task in the months ahead in view of the Super Eagles’ precarious situation in the race towards next year’s Mundial to be jointly hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.

    “Of course, I know Eric Sékou Chelle is now with Nigeria and good luck to him,” the vastly travelled 71-year-old Rohr told Nation Sports.

    The Super Eagles are in fifth position in their World Cup 26 qualification section after taking just three points in their opening four matches in Group C and are now behind seven point  trio of South Africa, Rwanda and Benin and four point-Lesotho while Zimbabwe occupy the rear with a point.

    Rohr who incidentally  guided Niger to her last appearance at the Mundial in Russia 2018,said the Super Eagles are still in with a fighting chance for a ticket to World Cup 26.

    “It’s  not going to be easy (for Chelle) to qualify for the World Cup of course,” noted Rohr whose Cheetahs of Benin claimed  a  shock 2-1 win over the Super Eagles on Matchday 4  in Abidjan last June.“ But of course, everything is still possible.”

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    Though the Super Eagles job may look like a ‘poisoned chalice’, Chelle has yet again stated that he has what it takes to ride through the storm.

    Chelle has  managed lower division French clubs Athlético Marseille, Martigues and Boulogne-sur-Mer followed by spells at Mali and Mouloudia Club of Oran.

    Already, there are a lot of people who say that I don’t have much experience. But ultimately, I do have experience,” the 47-year-old reportedly  told Radio France International.

    He added: “I ended my career in 2014 and I’ve been coaching since that year. I coached a team, let’s say, from West Africa not long ago.

    “I coached a team in Algeria, the Mouloudia Club d’Oran. So, I’m starting to get to know African football well.”

    “Today, I feel ready to lead this great team with great players. So, I’m part of the progression process; the players will help me progress and I will help them progress too because I have a vision of football that will really fit well with this team,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Rohr has enthused about the eagerly awaited Final Draw for the  2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding next Monday in Rabat .

    Both Nigeria and Benin are in the 24-team pool for the 35th edition of the continental soccer showpiece.

    “ Personally, I’m  looking for the AFCON Draw holding next Monday and I will be there(in Rabat) hopefully by Sunday,” he noted.

  • Nigeria can’t afford to miss World Cup 26, says Rohr

    Nigeria can’t afford to miss World Cup 26, says Rohr

    With the business of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Cup (AFCON) to be held in Morocco concluded this week, attention would yet again be on the Super Eagles’ bid to make the party for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after missing out on the last one at Qatar 2022. But Nigeria’s chances now hang in the balance after the Super Eagles unbelievably took just three points in their opening four matches in their Group C section that houses South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, as well as Rwanda and Benin with whom they competed in the same Group D for the 2025 AFCON tickets.

    In March 2025, the Super Eagles will be away to the Amavubi of Rwanda who decimated the coach Austin Eguavoen-led side last Monday in Uyo before playing host to the Warriors of Zimbabwe in must-win matches to stay on course for a place at World Cup 26.

    Reflecting on his side’s qualification for AFCON 2025, Coach of The Cheetahs of Benin, Gernot Rohr, said the Super Eagles must be ready to fight their way in the qualification race for World Cup 26 in an interesting conversation with MORAKINYO ABODUNRIN…

    German coach Gernot Rohr believes the Super Eagles can still pull their chestnut from the fire in the race to secure a ticket for the FIFA World Cup 26, adding that it would be a big shame should Nigeria miss out of the biggest global football event after missing out of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

    Last term, Rohr has taken the Super Eagles to a touching distance of picking one of the continental tickets but was fired on the eve of the final play-off which was eventually lost to Ghana under caretaker coach Austin Eguavoen.

    “They (Super Eagles) cannot afford to miss out of two consecutive FIFA World Cups and that is why I believe strongly they can still bounce back in the race for the 2026 World cup,” Rohr, who led Nigeria to her last Mundial appearance at Russia 2018, told NationSports after helping Benin to qualify for the AFCON for the first time since their last appearance in 2019.

    By some strange design, Nigeria is housed with South Africa, Lesotho, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and Rohr’s Benin in the CAF Group C Qualifying section with the Super Eagles marooned in fifth position with three points from their opening four matches.

    After a 1-1 home draw with Lesotho on Matchday 1, the Super Eagles then drew their following two matches with an identical 1-1 score line against Zimbabwe (away) and South Africa (home) before that infamous 2-1 loss to Benin last June in Abidjan.

    But giving their pedigree, the Super Eagles can still be hopeful going into the next phase of the qualification next year; with a caveat though.

    “Of course, the Super Eagles can still do it (qualify for World Cup 26),” the former Bordeaux coach further said.

    “There are six more games to play for each of the teams in our group and that means anything is still possible, because you have to be the first team to automatically qualify while being second can still give you a chance.

    “Nigeria has the best collection of players out there but they should really be focussed if they want to qualify.

    “They must have the good fighting spirit to be able to do that … they still have to go to South Africa and other difficult countries and it is not going to be easy there.

    “But I think they can still do it.”

    Away from the World Cup 26 battle facing the Super Eagles, 71-year-old Rohr is revelling in the joy of helping The Cheetahs of Benin to secure a ticket to the AFCON after missing out of the last two editions held in Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire, even as he slammed the approach of coach Eguavoen-led side on the final day of the qualifiers towards Morocco 2025.

    “Qualification for the AFCON 2025 is very important to the people of Benin, especially after missing the last two editions,” a cherry-smiling Rohr told NationSports. “It is a big moment for the people, for the government, for the sports minister and, of course, the football federation.

    “We had a wonderful reception yesterday (Tuesday) with a lot of people that gave us a rousing welcome under the Amazon Statue in Cotonou

    “We had a long flight back home to Cotonou and had to wait for a long time at the airport in Tripoli before we got the permission to fly over Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. As such, we had to wait for about eleven hours from 3:30 am  to 2:30 pm in before we flew back.

    “It’s fine, we are happy to be back in Cotonou.

    To underline his joy over the qualification of the Beninese national team for AFCON 2025, Rohr has since swapped the display picture on his WhatsApp from an image of himself with Bordeaux legend Zinedine Zidane and Alain Giresse to that of himself in the colours of The Cheetahs.

    Read Also: 13th WAFCON: Super Falcons get group stage opponents today

    He offered: “Yes, I changed the DP of my WhatsApp on the day of the match against Libya (in Tripoli) because I was already in celebration mood. It is, indeed, quite a celebration for this AFCON qualification. Of course, we did not wait for the help of the Super Eagles because we had to play our own game to get the result for our qualification.”

    He continued on his side’s success from the cauldron in Tripoli: “Yes, we secured our ticket in Tripoli. It was not an easy match because they tried everything. They fought on the field because Libya is also a good team with good players and we also saw that in the match against Nigeria in Uyo before they conceded a goal in the last minute of the match against the Super Eagles.

    “Fortunately, we had a good organisation in our squad and even had two big chances to score. I think we got one ball behind the line but nobody could see clearly. But that draw in Tripoli was like a victory for us because it takes us back to the AFCON.”

    They say, ‘winning covers everything’ but Rohr, in his frank Teutonic stance, was unmistaken in his condemnation of the Super Eagles’ approach in their shock 2-1 home loss to Rwanda on Monday in Uyo, adding that fielding such conduct does not espouse the spirit of fair play.

    “We were shocked with the defeat of Nigeria in Uyo by Rwanda and I think the defeat of Nigeria came because you believed that you could leave your best players on the bench,” he noted in what seems to be a dig at coach Eguavoen. “I think doing that means you didn’t play the match in the spirit of fair play

     “You don’t do that because you had already qualified. That was a bad decision. It was not fair play for the other teams in the group. We saw that and we were really surprised.

    “Of course, we did not wait for the help of the Super Eagles to qualify, and we had to play our own game to get the result for our qualification. The spirit of the game should always be that of fair play; and to do that, they (Super Eagles coaching crew) should have allowed players like Victor Osimhen and Wilfred Ndidi to start the game (against Rwanda).

    “It is lack of respect when you put forward a weak team because you had qualified like Nigeria did against Rwanda. There should be respect for football, respect to the opponents and respect for fair play.

    “What they did against Rwanda is not good for the reputation of the Super Eagles,” he noted.

    Away from the so-called shenanigans of 2025 AFCON qualifiers, Rohr has hinted that no quarter would be asked and none would be given by his side when the qualifiers for World Cup 2026 resume next year. The Cheetahs, he said, in second place behind South Africa in Group C would be ready to stay their own claims

    “After securing a ticket to AFCON 2025, what we expect now is a good 2026 World Cup qualification,” the former Bayer Munich defender stated. “Now we are going to strengthen our team by still finding some good young players into the team.

    “We have some players already in mind that we want to bring into the Benin national team and we know we have the chance to also qualify for the World Cup.“We are in a very good position so far,” Rohr noted.

  • Benin still in the  race for AFCON 2025, says Rohr

    Benin still in the  race for AFCON 2025, says Rohr

     German  coach Gernot Rohr  said  his Cheetahs  of Benin Republic are still  much in the  race to qualify for  the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)  despite  the 2-1  away loss to  Rwanda in their MatchDay 4 encounter.

    Result left  Benin  on  six  points  and in second place behind  seven-point Nigeria   while Rwanda  are in third position with five points and Libya  rooted  at the bottom of the table with just one point going into the remaining  MatchDay 5 and 6 in November.

    Benin will host the Super Eagles of   Nigeria  on November 10  before playing  away to  the Mediterranean Knights of Libya on November  18  while  the other Group D fixtures in November  will see  Rwanda hosting Libya on November  10 before  playing away to Nigeria  on November 18 to draw curtains on the  qualifying tournament  for AFCON 2025.

    Rohr, the erstwhile  Super  Eagles foreign coach ,remains confident  about the chances  of  Benin  with only the top two teams in Group D guaranteed  tickets to what would be 35th edition of the biennial African football tournament.

    Read Also: Labbadia: Green, Gombe  fault NFF 

    “There is  a big suspense in our group but  we (Cheetahs of Benin) are still in the race,” the 71-year-old Rohr  who is seeking a fifth AFCON Finals ticket  for Benin, told NationSport. “We are already focused on the next two games(against Nigeria and Libya.”

    Though Benin lost, Rohr believes  his wards  who shocked super  2-1 last June  in their CAF Group C  MatchDay 4 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, can ride their luck yet again despite  losing  their opening Group D  AFCON  qualifier 3-0  to Nigeria in September.

    “We need at first,  a good result against Nigeria and we will finish against Libya,” added the former Bayern Munich defender.

  • Nigeria lose AFCON Final to ‘courageous’ Cote d’Ivoire, says Rohr

    Nigeria lose AFCON Final to ‘courageous’ Cote d’Ivoire, says Rohr

    German coach Gernot Rohr was short of criticising the Super Eagles after the coach Jose Peseiro-led ide capitulated to lose 2-1 to Ivorian Elephants in Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 Final Match, adding Nigeria lost to a ‘courageous and determined’ Cote d’Ivoire .

    “It was a wonderful AFCON tournament in the Ivory Coast (Cote d’Ivoire),” Rohr who was on AFCON 2023 punditry for Ivory TV, told NationSport yesterday.“ You can see that Abidjan is happy after this final because we saw a team of the Elephants which was very courageous and very strong (in the final against Nigeria).”

    In a gripping final at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan, Nigeria took a first half lead through Troost-Ekong who scored via a header for his third goal of the tournament. But the Ivorians bounced back in the second stanza after Franck Kessie levelled the scoreline at 1-1 with a well-placed header past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, before Sebastien Haller capitalized on a precise cross from Simon Adingra for the Cote d’Ivoire’s winner.

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    “It was interesting to see the Nigeria’s coach (Jose Peseiro) which everybody wanted to be sacked before the tournament going through to the finals against the Ivory Coast,” Rohr who led Nigeria to a third place finish at 2019 AFCON in Egypt, noted. “But I think they (Nigeria) lost the final because Ivory Coast was strong mentally and was the better team on Sunday.

    “Perhaps after scoring the first goal, they (Nigeria) thought it was over and only thought to defend but that was not the right way to preserve the result; they should have continued to play more.

    “ All the same, they gave their best and silver medal is also a big success because some of them(Super Eagles) already had a bronze medal with me four years ago, and only missing the gold medal which they can fight for in about one and half year in Morocco.

    “Nigerians must really be proud of the super Eagles; it’s a pity they didn’t win because it was a best opportunity with almost all the big countries out of the competition and with only Ivory Coast left.

    “But Ivory Coast was just too strong (for Nigeria) in the final,” he added.

    Rohr the immediate past foreign trainer of the Super Eagles who currently manages The Cheetahs of neighbouring Republic of Benin, further said that AFCON 2023 has lived up to bill as one of the best continental tournaments in the world.

    “Frankly, it was really an exceptional tournament from quality of the games; from the drama; from the atmosphere and from the hospitality of the Ivorian people which was very great,” continued Rohr who had previously worked in other parts of Africa including Niger, Burkina Faso, Tunisia and Gabon.

    “ of course, we also saw wonderful teams as well as big tams that went out too quickly in the tournament as well as smaller teams like Cape Verde, Angola, Namibia, Mauritania who did so well which is good to see and I think all the games were also interesting.

    “I am really happy to confess that the level of African football is really growing and it is great pleasure not only to watch the games but also to the preparations of the teams.

    “I saw at close quarters at my hotel , the team from Cape Verde and South Africa and was able to speak to their coaches because they did a great jobs at this tournament,” the former Bayern Munich defender declared.

  • Rohr unfazed by Nigeria’s drop on FIFA rankings

    German coach Gernot Rohr is unfazed about the Super Eagles fall in the FIFA ranking released on Thursday.

    Despite playing 2-2 against Ukraine in an international friendly early this month, the Eagles dropped from 33 from 34 but remained the third in Africa behind Senegal and Tunisia.

    However, Rohr admitted that it would be difficult to gain points from playing a match unlike other countries that played two matches during the international break. “Yes, we played only one match in Ukraine and others played twice in the same period… Even if we play just one against Brazil next month, It will be difficult to take us higher,” he told NationSport.

    Senegal hold on to top spot in Africa and they remain 20th while Tunisia remains 29th in the world to be second best team in Africa.

    Belgium remain top of the ranking after an action-packed number of weeks in international football which saw 78 friendlies, 74 continental qualifiers and 60 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers take place.

    Though the teams in the top ten remain unchanged, there has been some movement. France (2nd, up 1) and Brazil (3rd, down 1) have traded places, while Spain (7th, up 2) are the top ten’s biggest movers.

  • Brazil good test for Super Eagles, says Rohr

    GERMAN coach Gernot Rohr has admitted that the October 13th international friendly against  the Selecao of Brazil  in Singapore is a  very good test  for the Super Eagles, even as he vowed  to restrict the use of mobile phones and social media while players  are on international duty.

    The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Monday disclosed on its website that  the reigning Copa America champions will be playing two friendly matches  against  Africa  Senegal and Nigeria on 10 and 13 October respectively with the likelihood that star players like Neymar, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho would be on parade at the National Stadium in Singapore.

    “We are happy  about this particular match coming up  against Brazil  even if they are not an African team that we’re going to play  in  the 2021 AFCON qualifiers,” the former FC Bordeaux manager.“ Of course, it’s Brazil and as such, it’s a big match for us  to be played far away in Singapore;  and I hope we can  have more than  two good training sessions before the match (against Brazil)   like we had before the match against Ukraine .”

    According to Rohr, international friendly against the traditional  soccer nations  such as Brazil serves as twin purpose of preparing the Super Eagles for the upcoming  continental qualifiers (against Benin Republic at home on  14th November  and away to Lesotho on 19th November) as well as  improvement of the side’s  rating in the monthly FIFA-Coca Cola rankings.

    “It would be very important for us to train hard for this match because we have to make a very good game  against one of the best teams in the world because    a good result  will improve our rankings in the world,” noted  the 66-year-old coach. “This is going to be a wonderful match for us to play  and I hope all our injured players would be available for the match because it’s a very big match.”

    In a related development, Rohr informed that the general ambiance around the Super Eagles camp has improved   post the 2019 AFCON  in Egypt  with restriction and use of social media when the players are on international duty.

    Read Also: Rohr laments Mikel, Ighalo exit from Super Eagles

    “Of course,  we have better communication and conversations   in the team now because the phones are restricted during breakfast, lunch, dinner and during our meetings and I’ve also advised the players against  social media which sometimes is not very good,” revealed  Rohr.

    Meanwhile, match organisers  have disclosed that tickets for the two matches between  Brazil against Senegal and Nigeria will go on sale today  at the SportsHub website.

    The NationSport gathered that ticket for a single game is   priced from $29 ( about N10,150) onwards, while there are special-bundle prices from $49 ( about N17,150)onwards for two games.

    Fans may also choose the $299(about N104,650) SuperFan Package, which includes VIP lanyard and pass, access to a dedicated VIP lounge, Centreline platinum tickets with padded seats and drink holders, as well as refreshments.

  • Mum fought opposing fans for us — Rohr

    MOURNING Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has revealed that his late mum fought opposing fans for her five sons while playing football, describing her as a football mum.

    Madam Elisabeth Rohr passed on on Thursday at the ripe age of 97.

    Rohr who shared her mother’s best moment after her demise yesterday stated that she followed his five sons wherever they played, while their father was the coach. He said the love the mother showed toward her sons was unquantifiable.

    “She was a football mum who followed her five sons wherever they played matches and my dad as a coach.

    One day she was fighting an opposition fan for insulting one of my brothers,” he added.

    The news of Rohr’s mother demise was confirmed via the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) twitter handle @Thenff on Thursday.

    Read Also: DR Congo in talks with Rohr

    It reads: We commiserate with @NGSuperEagles Head coach, Mr. Gernot Rohr who just lost his mother, Madam Elisabeth Rohr. She was 97. May her soul rest in peace.

    The news would come as a shock to the German tactician, who helped Nigeria to claim a bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

    Rohr recently guided the senior national team to a pulsating 2-2 draw against Ukraine in Tuesday’s international friendly game at the Dnipro Arena.

  • Things you need to know about Ukraine vs Nigeria friendly

    The Coaches:

    Both Gernot Rohr who will be leading the Super Eagles and Andriy Shevchenko who will be leading his country men were both former players.

    While Rohr was a former defender who played for four different clubs including Bayern Munich and French Ligue 1 side Bordeaux, his counterpart Andriy Shevchenko was a former striker who equally played for four different clubs including AC Milan and Chelsea.

    Coaching Experience:

    Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr

    While Rohr’s resume indicate that he has managed seven different clubs and four national teams the current being the Super Eagles, Shevchenko started as National team assistant coach in 2016 and later confirmed as national team coach and has been on the saddle now for three years.

    FIFA Ranking:

    As at July 2019, Ukraine are 25th on the log with 1513 points while Nigeria occupy the 33rd Position with 1481 points.

    Highest world cup record:

    Ukraine best outing was in 2006 in Germany where the Yellow and Blue made it to the Quarterfinals before crashing out following 3-0 defeat by The Azures of Italy.

    Nigeria’s best outings were three time round of 16 finishes in USA 94, France 98 and Brazil 2014.

    Head to Head:

    Ukraine coach Shevchenko

    Tuesday’s tie will be the first meeting of both countries at the senior level. In their last six matches Ukraine won four and drew two against Portugal and Turkeywhile Nigeria won four against Tunisia, South Africa, Cameroon and Guinea all at the last Nations cup in Egypt but losing to Madagascar and Algeria respectively.

    What to expect:  Opportunity for new players in the Eagles’ fold to showcase their skills. Goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, midfielders Joe Aribo, and Anderson Esiti and striker Josh Maja.

    Nigeria’s Squad:

    Goalkeeper: Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Francis Uzoho, Maduka Okoye.

    Defenders: Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Brian Idowu, Jamiliu Collins.

    Midfielders: Joe Aribo, Anderson Esiti, Oghenekaro Etebo, Alex Iwobi.

    Forwards: Victor Osimhen, Samuel Chukwueze, Josh Maja, Paul Onuachu, Dennis Bonaventure, Samuel Kalu, Moses Simon.

  • DR Congo in talks with Rohr

    FLORENT Ibengé has quit as coach of Democratic Republic of Congo national team after five years in the saddle.

    According to congoprofond.net, Nigeria’s manager Gernot Rohr is the favourite to replace Ibengé and Constant Omari, president of FECOFA, has opened a line of communication with the former Bayern Munich defender.

    Gernot Rohr’s future as coach of the Super Eagles is hanging in the balance after they failed to win the Africa Cup of Nations, despite the German contracted to the Nigerian Federation until 2020.

    The 66-year-old was brought in as Nigeria coach in 2016, having previously coached French-speaking countries Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso.

    The Super Eagles qualified for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 AFCON with a game to spare under the tutelage of Rohr.

    The experienced tactician has also coached Bordeaux, OGC Nice and Nantes among others.

  • Rohr laments Mikel, Ighalo exit from Super Eagles

    Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr has described the retirement of Captain Mikel Obi and striker Odion Ighalo from international football after the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as a bitter pill to swallow.

    He however commended both players for their meritorious services to the Super Eagles.

    While Mikel called it quit with the Super Eagles after the national team claimed the AFCON bronze medal following Ighalo’s solitary winner in the third place match on Wednesday, Ighalo amidst wide speculations formally announced his retirement on Friday after what he described as ‘an amazing five-year journey.’

    But speaking on the developments, Rohr said both players did exceptionally well during their spells with the Super Eagles:

    “I think the retirement of both  players (Mikel and Ighalo) means at first to recognise all what they have done for Nigerian football; Ighalo’s decision is very hard because he brought us with his goals to AFCON and bronze medal giving a good answer to all the critics.”

    Read Also: Eagles lost to a better team, says Rohr

    Super Eagles’ Team Media Officer (TMO), Toyin Ibitoye, said the retirement of the duo has presented fresh challenges to the coaching crew, noting Mikel and Ighalo would be sorely missed within the rank and file of the national team.

    “We will definitely miss both of them but that is just the reality of life; there is a time to start and a time to stop,” Ibitoye waxed philosophically.

    “The coaches now have their jobs cut out to fill the void left by these players with talents of almost same quality. It will not be easy but it is not also impossible.”

    Ibitoye further praised Ighalo for overcoming initial fears to be crowned as the 2019 AFCON Golden Boot winner after his five goals helped the Super Eagles to win the bronze medal.

    He said: “I am happy for Ighalo; his hard work has paid off. Hampered by hamstring worries at the start of the tournament and at the end, he still emerged as the top scorer. The Super Eagles will miss his (Ighalo) power play.”