Why Sacking Rohr Now Will Spell Disaster For Super Eagles In 2022 AFCON -Ikpeba

Former Nigerian striker, Victor Ikpeba, has advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) not to sack but retain the Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Ikpeba disclosed this on Monday Night Football Show on SuperSports, where he frowned at sacking the German tactician as that will spell disaster for the Super Eagles at the tournament.

He cautioned the NFF to apply wisdom in the handling of the whole process so as not to affect the progress of the senior national team.

“It is less than 48 days before our first game against Egypt at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The speculation about his sack has been intense and I’m really surprised. I know what happened in 2002 and in 2010. Rumour of people going to the Sports Ministry and the Presidency calling for Rohr to be sacked.

“Rohr has done the needful qualifying the Eagles for the World Cup playoffs. Yes, we were not brilliant against Cape Verde but he has done the needful. Why not wait till after the AFCON and take a decision on his future. It will be a disaster if that happens now. If you sack Rohr and employ another coach, if the team fails at the AFCON who takes the blame?

“What will the new manager change. What changed in 2002 and in 2010. It was a disaster.This will happen again if Rohr is sacked now. My worry is that we forget history and we should not. Those who sacked the late Amodu Shuaibu twice said he was not good enough. Gernot Rohr has been too soft with the players the NFF can help him.”