Nigerian fans and former footballers have insisted that Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, must be sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation following the team’s lacklustre home draw against Cape Verde at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on Tuesday.

It was a nervy moment across the country as the Eagles played a 1-1 draw to book a place in the final round of the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

The Eagles were pegged backwards towards the end of the final Group C game as Pedro Brito’s men pushed forward in search of the winning goal that could have seen them overtake Nigeria on the table.

Despite the Eagles’ qualification for the play-offs next March, fans were left unconvinced by the performance of the team and Rohr’s conservative approach, and once again called for the sack of the Franco-German tactician.

Former England striker of Nigerian descent John Fashanu said Rohr should have been sacked long before now.

“I do not agree with my fellow Nigerians who are just coming out to say this man (Rohr) should be sacked now because for me, he should have been sacked a long time ago,” Fashanu told PUNCH Sports Extra.

“For us to get to where we want to get, I don’t think Rohr is the best man for the job because our football is drowning.

“We are talking about one of the smallest countries in Africa compared to the largest country in Africa. We have some of the best players in the world who play for some of the best clubs in Europe. We played at home and we couldn’t get a win, which is very bad.”

Atlant ‘96 Olympic Games gold medallist, Abiodun Obafemi, added, “This is not the first time we have been saying this and when I say we, I am referring to football-loving Nigerians, Rohr has not added anything to the Eagles since he took over.

“As far as I am concerned, he is one of the worst coaches Nigeria has ever had and I think it is time we moved on because this man doesn’t understand the passion Nigerians have for football.

“We lost the little prestige we had in Africa when Central African Republic came to Lagos and beat us. Now, we couldn’t even pick up a win against Cape Verde.”

A football fan, Alex Ebhodaghe, expressed his dismay at the poor performance of the Eagles against the Blue Sharks.

He said, “When I thought I had seen it all with my club Manchester United, I couldn’t believe I had to go through such a mental torture during that game. It got to a point I couldn’t finish the match because I got so scared and my heart was beating so fast.

“I don’t want to die of high blood pressure. I don’t think I want to watch the next game except Rohr is not the man in charge of the game.”

Another fan Deji Adelana added, “I watched the game in a viewing centre and we were all nervous towards the end because a goal from Cape Verde would have ruled us out of the World Cup.

“We were all tensed and immediately people started calling for the sack of the coach and I totally agreed with them. I have said it before and I am saying it again: it’s time for this man who has come to Nigeria to collect a pension to go.”

“I don’t want to talk too much other than to beg the NFF to just sack this man who almost killed millions of Nigerians on Tuesday,” Tope Adekunle told PUNCH Sports Extra.

Nigeria managed just one win from three at home in the qualifiers as they beat Liberia 2-0, before losing to 115th-ranked Central African Republic and ending with Tuesday’s uninspiring draw against the Cape Verdeans.

The poor home run also brought Rohr’s management and coaching style into the spotlight as he approaches six years in charge of the side.

Lagos fans, known to voice out their frustrations after Eagles poor outings, did not boo the players after the tie on Tuesday, but hailed Napoli striker, the scorer of the only goal, for his man-of-the-match display.

Rohr still has the support of his players, including Osimhen, despite the declining fortunes of the national team.

“What’s important is getting to the next stage of the qualifying, that’s what the target was and I’m proud we could achieve that,” Osimhen told BBC Sport Africa.

The coach also seems to have the backing of his employers NFF, despite a massive backlash by football-crazy fans on social media.

“The World Cup play-off follows in March so what the coach needs is our full support. He will not get the sack,” BBC Sport Africa quoted an unnamed NFF official as saying.

robosky02:

Home games use to be a fortress for Nigeria with big wins but now

Nigeria managed just one win from three at home in the qualifiers as they beat Liberia 2-0, before losing to 115th-ranked Central African Republic and ending with Tuesday’s uninspiring draw against the Cape Verdeans.



Nigeria 1-1 cape Varde


Nigeria 0 - 1 Central Africa Republic


Nigeria 4 - 4 Sierra Leon


Nigeria. 2 - 0 Liberia


Rohr is a good man but Nigeria need to dream bigger not celebrating a drew with Cape Verde

kenzysmith:
This will be the biggest mistake Nigeria we do to sack the coach at this crucial time

robosky02:




How


Are you aware he is officially now the longest serving coach yet nothing to show


Even with the abundant talent we still can have a pattern of play

kenzysmith:
what abundant talent how many of ur player dey uefa champion league this season name one? For the ist time players is selected base on form u think football in Africa is child play?
What will ivory coast who had abundant talent says after they miss out
Na so una do goodluck appoint buhari shey una see the results
Make I see wetin una Emmanuel amunike go do

robosky02:




Name one exceptional thing Rohr has done or what other have not done

Ad I will give one so many things he has not

kenzysmith:
pk so who should will appoint?

robosky02:
Them plenty

fergie001:

This man should have been sacked years ago, but we kept him.

Sacking him now is a very risky venture for many reasons.

With the play-offs looming, I don't know what the new man will do in short notice, especially with AFCON one or two months ahead.

robosky02:
I can tell you for free and is not far from who you know

The next coach already know the boys that only need to do tactical work before next playoff

And he has AFCON to blend too

kenzysmith:
what abundant talent how many of ur player dey uefa champion league this season name one? For the ist time players is selected base on form u think football in Africa is child play?
What will ivory coast who had abundant talent says after they miss out
Na so una do goodluck appoint buhari shey una see the results
Make I see wetin una Emmanuel amunike go do