NFF To Hold Contract Talks With Rohr

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced plans to present a new contract to Super Eagles’ Manager, Gernot Rohr next month, five months before the expiration of his current deal.

The NFF also said that the deal will delineate certain clauses, which must be followed by the German tactician to avoid the issues that have plagued the national team as well as the coach’s relationship with the Federation.

NFF President, Amaju Pinnick while speaking to journalists in Benin during the Federation’s 75th Annual General Assembly indicated that should Rohr reject the conditions of the new offer, the federation would immediately delve into the process of getting a new manager.

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Rohr, who inherited the Super Eagles managerial reins in August 2016 from embattled coach, Sunday Oliseh, qualified Nigeria for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia where the team ultimately failed to go past the group stages after a late Marcus Rojo goal secured a 2-1 win for Argentina in their last game and send the hapless Nigerian team home.

He also won bronze at the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt, beating Tunisia in the third-place match after losing to eventual winners, Algeria courtesy of a late Riyad Mahrez freekick. His current deal will expire in June 2020; however, he would be free to start speaking to potential suitors as from January when he could also sign a pre-contract agreement.

Pinnick said, “We are going to present the contract proposal to Rohr next month and we have already mandated the first Vice-President to constitute the legal team to draft the new proposal, which will be made available to the coach next month.”

Pinnick expressed the NFF’s desire to retain Rohr as Super Eagles’ manager, adding, however, that in the negotiations, Nigeria’s interest would be paramount.

He added: “If we don’t want him to continue as Eagles manager, we would not even contemplate drafting a new proposal for him, but we are okay with him. We only want to institute some things that would protect the interest of Nigeria and its football in the new contract.

“That is why we are starting next month so that he can have enough time to study the offer and accept. If he does not accept our new offer as Timaya said, ‘’I cannot kill myself’ and we would shop for a new manager to take over."

The Super Eagles will continue their qualifying series for the 2021 Nations Cup following their first two wins against Lesotho and Benin Republic in August 2020 when they welcome Sierra Leone for the first leg of a double-header.