The Franco-German tactician and the Nigeria Football Federation continue to haggle over a new contract with less than two months left on the coach’s current deal.
Former NFF Secretary-General Alhaji Sani Toro has commended Gernot Rohr for his brilliant handling of the Super Eagles over the last four years and warned the football body of the dangers of dismissing the gaffer at this point.
Despite winning the 2013 tournament, Nigeria failed to qualify for the two successive editions of the African Cup of Nations until Rohr was handed the reins of the Super Eagles in August 2016.
The former Bordeaux manager has since guided the national team to the 2018 FIFA World Cup and also led the team to a third-place finish at the AFCON last year.
The Super Eagles are well-placed to qualify for next year’s edition of the continental tourney, and Alhaji Toro is of the view that sacking the coach will put the team’s qualification chances in jeopardy.
“Rohr has done well for Nigeria, qualifying for two major competitions and winning bronze at the last AFCON in Egypt,” the former Glass House scribe said in a TV interview as per Complete Sports.
“His qualification records are excellent, and I think he has learnt his lessons from the World Cup exit in the First Round. If you consider the fact that he achieved these from the scratch after two AFCON misses, you cannot but score him high.
“If the NFF no longer want the coach to continue, they should just be bold to tell him that his services are no longer needed and start looking for another coach. But if you ask me, I will suggest Rohr is retained for the AFCON in Cameroon next year.
“I will advise that the NFF should not rock our qualification boat by allowing Rohr to run out his contract. A new coach at this time of the qualifications will not augur well for the team, and the bonding will be affected,” he added.
