The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Gernot Rohr

  • Rohr Releases 30-Man Provisional World Cup List

    Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has released  the long awaited  30-man provisional squad for the Russia 2018 World Cup  finals in the summer.

    the list comprises of four Goal keeper, nine defenders, eight Midfielders and eight fowards.

    Kano Pillars striker Junior Lokosa and Crotone attacker Simeon Nwankwo are the surprise inclusions as Malaga’s Brown Ideye has been left out.

    The Nigerian team will play Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in Port Harcourt on May 25, after which the final squad will be announced. The Super Eagles will then depart the country to play England and the Czech Republic on June 2 and June 5 respectively.

    Also read : Eagles will play to win – Etebo

  • Ezenwa trains with Enyimba in recovery bid

    Super Eagles’ Coach, Gernot Rohr is a happy man following goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa’s return to training with his club, Enyimba FC.

    Ezenwa had a minor injury in his team’s last away clash against Kwara United in Ilorin, a development which caused an uproar in the media, but the former Sunshine Stars shot-stopper debunked report it was a serious injury.

    Speaking to AOIFootball.com exclusively, the former FC Ifeanyi Ubah goalie revealed that he is back in training and would be fit for Enyimba FC’s NPFL game this weekend.

    “I am back in training with my team. The recovery was fast and I will be available for selection this weekend,” Ezenwa confirmed.

    Speaking further, Ezenwa revealed he got a phone call from Coach Gernot Rohr who is happy that he is back to training.

    “Yes, the coach called me. He is very happy with my recovery and hopes I continue to play and stay fit ahead of the World Cup,” he concluded.

  • Rohr identifies handicap of local players

     

    *says FIFA ranking will take back seat in Russia

    Absence of modern facilities has been identified as the greatest handicap of local players in their attempt to compare with their counterparts in Europe.

    Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr made the submission while reviewing Nigeria’s qualification for the world cup, contribution of players both home and abroad to the feat achieved so far, noted that foreign based players have the privilege of playing and training with the best of facilities which brings out the best in them while their counterparts at home face lots of challenges which hamper their development and affect their output.

    “The local players’ have a lot of challenges no doubt about that, and it is bound to affect their output and standard.

    Their counterparts who play in Europe for instance have the benefit of training with the bests of facilities and when you are determined to excel and also have modern facilities to train with it serves as a major boost,” he said

    Rohr, who is expected to dish out his final 23-man squad for the world cup after the Wimbley friendly against the Three Lions of England on June 2nd, said he is looking forward to a good competition in Russia with a team that is united, determined and confident. He dismissed permutations in some quarters that Nigeria may not emerge from her group considering that all her opponents viz Croatia, Iceland and Argentina rank higher on the FIFA log going into the world cup.

    “When you are on the pitch you don’t remember ranking what you ought to focus on is having a good competition putting you very best aiming to emerge victorious and that is the desire of every team heading to the World cup.  We had an excellent fighting spirit during the qualifiers and we intend to maintain that spirit so we don’t bother about ranking,” he enthused. Argentina are the highest ranked in Nigeria’s group by March 15th ranking at number 4 in the world behind Germany Brazil and Portugal, Croatia are ranked 15, Iceland on 18 and Nigeria on 52. Three more rankings are however expected by April 15 and May 15 respectively before the kickoff on June 14 in Russia.

    The 32 qualified countries according to FIFA are expected to dish out their provisional squad of 35 by May 14 and the final squad of 23 by June 4.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Rohr combs Europe for strikers

    Apparently not satisfied with the performance of his players against Serbia last Tuesday, the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr has vowed to get prolific strikers that would deliver at this year’s World Cup.

    The Eagles, after labouring to beat Poland 1-0 on March 23rd, 2018, the team played below expectation in the next match against Serbia at the Barnet Stadium in England four days later. Rohr has since spread his dragnet to search for potent strikers and unique players that could transform his team to a world beater.

    In a chat with NationSport when asked if he was looking for prolific strikers that can score goals more easily for the Eagles, Rohr disclosed that he has put the machinery in motion to upgrade all the departments of his team in readiness for the 2018 World Cup

    “We are still ready to take someone really stronger than those players we have. Each weekend we are monitoring a lot of players with our scouting team”, the Franco- German football tactician replied.

  • Rohr picks Mikel, Moses, Balogun, Troost-Ekong as Eagles stars

    GERNOT Rohr has named skipper Mikel Obi, Chelsea star Victor Moses as well as central defenders Leon Balogun and William Troost-Ekong as the Super Eagles top stars going into the World Cup in Russia.

    “We have a few very experienced players, such as our captain John Obi Mikel (Tianjin Teda, China). Our two central defenders William Troost-Ekong (Bursaspor, Turkey) and Leon Balogun (Mainz, Germany) are also very important to us,” the Eagles coach told Soccer Laduma in an interview.

    “We have players such as Victor Moses (Chelsea, England) and Alex Iwobi (Arsenal, England) – they are also very important for us. We have many young players, and everyone has a role to play in our team. But the most important leaders are our captain Mikel, the vice-captain Ogenyi Onazi, and Ahmed Musa also.

  • Rohr calls for more grass pitch stadiums for NPFL matches

    Super Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr on Sunday in Lagos expressed his preference for Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matches to be played more on grass pitch stadiums.

    Rohr spoke with the News men after the NPFL Match Day 12 fixture between Lagos-based MFM FC and Heartland FC of Owerri at Agege Stadium.

    The coach said while he was impressed with the standard of the league he believed it would be improved more if games were played on grass as against synthetic pitches.

    “I am here to see MFM FC play once again after the CAF Champions League fixture which they won. I am also here to see the other team, Heartland FC.

    “What I also noticed is that the league is being played on synthetic pitches. That is old-fashioned because the sun is not favourable playing on such turf.

    “Synthetic pitches are hot during the sun and it is not the best for the players,’’ he said.

    Rohr said he would like to see other players outside the ones he had shortlisted for the upcoming Super Eagles’ matches, so as to see their level of commitment and play.

    Read Also: NIGERIA’S WORLD CUP SQUAD: Everyone must fight for a shirt – Rohr

    “I am not here to see those players on my list, but discovering more players and to see the level of the league, which is better for me.

    “I want to see those that are doing better and to discover other teams. This is where I can watch the team play because there are no NPFL clubs playing in Abuja.

    “The level of the league is interesting and I must commend the teams for their good spirit, though none of the players are in my list,’’ he said.

    The news men reports, MFM FC had defeated Heartland FC 3-0, with goals from Stanley Okorom (8th minute), Chuka Uwaga (88th minute) and Tchato Giscard (92nd minute).

    NAN

  • World Cup: NFF has more work to do for Super Eagles

    World Cup: NFF has more work to do for Super Eagles

    Yinka Ogundimu, a lawmaker in Lagos State, on Wednesday said that the success of the Super Eagles at the 2018 World Cup in Russia would depend largely on the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ).

    Ogundimu, who represents Agege Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, made the assertion in an interview with our reporters,   in Lagos.

    According to him, the NFF should strive to provide the necessary logistics for the coaching crew that would enable them to perform maximally at the World Cup.

    “The NFF has a lot to do if the Super Eagles are to fly high at the World Cup.

    “What I think the federation has to do right now is to equip the coaching crew to start the preparations in earnest.

    “NFF should not wait until the time there will be no opportunity to spring any surprise again.

    “So, we need to play more of friendly matches for the players to actually blend and play together.

    “Football is a team work and only this can bring results,’’ the lawmaker said.

    Ogundimu, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Finance, said that the team that would represent Nigeria should be selected on merit and nothing else.

    “We must pick our team based on competence and not on quota system. If we can do this and shut the door against favoritism, it shall be well.

    “We have a lot of potential that can carry us to the level of quarter-finals.

    “The team handlers must just toe the way of merit and avoid personal interest,’’ the football enthusiast added.

    Read Also: NFF partners travel agency to support Super Eagles World Cup campaign

    On the national coach, Ogundimu said: “I don’t doubt the competence of Super Eagles Coach, but he should be given a free hand to operate and do his job.

    “Gernot Rohr should have a perfect control of team. If we reach quarter-finals, it will be a good mark for us, but there is nothing stopping us from going further.

    “For us to reach quarter-finals, it means we have a team. Any team in quarter-finals can spring a surprise.

    “No team is push over. We must prepare well and have the right selection and with this, we have nothing to fear,’’ he said.

    Our reporter,  reports that the 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup is scheduled to hold in Russia between June 14 and July 15.

    The original trophy which would be handed over to the 2018 FIFA World Cup-winning team at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15, will arrive in Nigeria on Wednesday.

    The trophy is on a tour of 91 cities in 51 countries across six continents before the commencement of the 21st FIFA World Cup.

    NAN

  • Pinnick: Why we offered Rohr fresh two –year contract

    Pinnick: Why we offered Rohr fresh two –year contract

     

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick has explained that the resolve of the Federation’s leadership to ensure there are no distractions of any size or complexion around Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup preparation and participation informed the offer of a fresh, two –year contract to Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr.

     

    Franco-German Rohr, signed by the NFF in August 2016, has met the first milestone of his contract, which is qualifying the Super Eagles for a sixth FIFA World Cup finals. Nigeria thoroughly overhauled a so –called Group of Death, spanking 2012 AFCON winners Zambia home and away and earning four points from home-and-away clashes with fellow 2014 World Cup finalists Cameroon and Algeria. Second –placed Zambia finished six points behind the Super Eagles.

     

    “We have decided to confront head-on any possible area of conflict or controversy, and fully resolve each and every possible friction point well ahead of the competition.

     

    “After signing the agreement on payment to the team from expected FIFA income, the next stage was to take care of the Technical Adviser. He has done very well and does not need to go into the World Cup uncertain of his future,” stated Pinnick.

     

    The 64 –year old Rohr, a former Germany defender, flaunts a sterling record with the Super Eagles, winning seven of 12 matches and drawing four in his 15 months in charge so far. His only loss was the 0-2 reverse to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo in June 2017.

     

    Under him, the Eagles have beaten Tanzania, Zambia (twice), Algeria, Togo, Cameroon and two –time world champions Argentina, and drawn with Senegal, Corsica, Cameroon and Algeria.

     

    Following the 1-0 defeat of Zambia in Uyo on 7th October that guaranteed Nigeria’s place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, Rohr, whose qualifying squad has been declared the youngest of all 32 finalists, told thenff.com: “I love working with this group. I am delighted being at the head of such a wonderful, level –headed and ambitious squad.”

     

    After signing a two –year contract with the NFF last year, Rohr told thenff.com: “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 to get to the latter stages of the competition.”

     

    ROHR’S RECORD

    03/09/2016: Nigeria 1 Tanzania 0 (AFCON Qualifier, Uyo)

    09/10/2017: Zambia 1 Nigeria 2 (WC Qualifier, Ndola)

    12/11/2016: Nigeria 3 Algeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

    23/03/2017: Nigeria 1 Senegal 1 (Friendly, London)

    27/05/2017: Corsica 1 Nigeria 1 (Friendly, Ajaccio)

    01/06/2017: Nigeria 3 Togo 0 (Friendly, Paris)

    10/06/2017: Nigeria 0 South Africa 2 (AFCON Qualifier, Uyo)

    01/09/2017: Nigeria 4 Cameroon 0 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

    04/09/2017: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Yaounde)

    07/10/2017: Nigeria 1 Zambia 0 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

    10/11/2017: Algeria 1 Nigeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Constantine)

    14/11/2017: Argentina 2 Nigeria 4 (Friendly, Krasnodar)

     

  • Rohr needs certainty over future – Pinnick

    Rohr needs certainty over future – Pinnick

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ), Amaju Pinnick, on Tuesday explained the federation’s motives in offering Super Eagles Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr a contract expansion.

    “The Federation leadership’s resolve to ensure there were no distractions of any size or complexion around Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup preparation and participation informed the offer of a fresh two-year contract to Rohr,’’ he said.

    Rohr was signed by the NFF in August 2016 and has met the first milestone of his contract, which is ensuring the Eagles qualify for a sixth FIFA World Cup finals.

    Nigeria thoroughly overhauled their opponents, spanking 2012 AFCON winners Zambia home and away.

    The Eagles also earned four points from home-and-away clashes with fellow 2014 World Cup finalists Cameroon and Algeria, leaving second-placed Zambia six points behind the Super Eagles.

    “We have decided to confront head-on any possible area of conflict or controversy, and fully resolve each and every possible friction point well ahead of the competition.

    Read also: I’m happy working with Super Eagles – Rohr

    “After signing the agreement on payment to the team from expected FIFA income, the next stage was to take care of the Technical Adviser.

    “He has done very well and does not need to go into the World Cup uncertain of his future,” Pinnick said in a statement released by the NFF on Tuesday.

    The 64-year old Rohr, a former Germany defender, flaunts a sterling record with the Eagles, winning seven of 12 matches and drawing four in his 15 months in charge so far.

    His only loss was the 0-2 reverse to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo in June 2017.

    Under him, the Eagles have beaten Tanzania, Zambia (twice), Algeria, Togo, Cameroon and two –time world champions Argentina, and drawn with Senegal, Corsica, Cameroon and Algeria.

    ROHR’S RECORD

    03/09/2016: Nigeria 1 Tanzania 0 (AFCON Qualifier, Uyo)

    09/10/2017: Zambia 1 Nigeria 2 (WC Qualifier, Ndola)

    12/11/2016: Nigeria 3 Algeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

    23/03/2017: Nigeria 1 Senegal 1 (Friendly, London)

    27/05/2017: Corsica 1 Nigeria 1 (Friendly, Ajaccio)

    01/06/2017: Nigeria 3 Togo 0 (Friendly, Paris)

    10/06/2017: Nigeria 0 South Africa 2 (AFCON Qualifier, Uyo)

    01/09/2017: Nigeria 4 Cameroon 0 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

    04/09/2017: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Yaounde)

    07/10/2017: Nigeria 1 Zambia 0 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

    10/11/2017: Algeria 1 Nigeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Constantine)

    14/11/2017: Argentina 2 Nigeria 4 (Friendly, Krasnodar)

    NAN

  • NFF sets Quarter/Semi finals target for Rohr

    NFF sets Quarter/Semi finals target for Rohr

     

    As Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr smiles to the bank following the payment of his December Salary plus 2-year contract offer, the German tactician has been told aim for quarter of semi final spot in Russia.

    Nigeria has been at the World Cup five times and the best performance has been the round of 16 achieved at the 1994 edition in USA, 1998 edition in France and the 2014 edition in Brazil. The remaining two were poor outings that saw the Nation book her exit in the group stage in Korea 2002 and South Africa 2010 respectively.

    Spokesman of the Glass House Demola Olajire who revealed the charge given to Rohr, said the NFF is offering the team all the needed support in the hope that it can better the record already on ground.

    “The round of 16 is the highest we have reached and we are looking at something better than that like the semi finals,” he said adding that Grade A friendly matches will be organised for the team after the World Cup draw on Friday.

    Nigeria like the remaining 31 countries that booked their place for the Showdown in Russia eagerly await their opponents at the draws to be held at the Kremlin on Friday.

    Some fans and analysts in the country have been expressing hope that Eagles will get a favourable draw. Favourable those who spoke with thenationonline.net say, means avoiding the super powers of football especially former winners of the World cup at the group stage.

    Eagles have played a total of 18 matches in the finals of their world cup appearances, four matches in USA 94 which ended with round of 16 exit, after losing to the Azzuris 2-1 after extra time. Four matches in France 98 ending in the round of 16 after a 4-1 loss to Denmark, three matches in Korea which ended with a goalless draw against England in the group stage after initial lone goal loss to Argentina in the opener and 2-1 win over Sweden. Three matches in South Africa 2010 which ended at the group stage after a 2-2 draw against South Korea in Durban after initial 1-0 loss to Argentina and 2-1 loss to Greece in Bloemfontein and finally four matches in Brazil ending in the round of 16 with a 2-0 loss to France in Brasília.

    Argentina appears to be recurring decimal in the draws against Eagles and may again be pitched against the Rohr tutored side on Friday. The rejuvenated Eagles however believe they will have the better of the South Americans should they feature among opponents again especially after handing them a 4-2 defeat in a recent friendly in Russia.