Ifeanyi Eduzor
As many Nigerians continue to call for the sack of Super Eagles handler, Gernot Rohr, following the inability of the team to play in the finals of this year’s AFCON, ex- international, Edema Fuludu, has come to his aid insisting that the Franco-German tactician needs commendation instead of castigation.
Many Nigerians have reacted angrily to the 0-2 loss of the Super Eagles in their Group B game against tournament’s debutant, Madagascar, and the below average performance against Algeria in their Semi-final clash, prompting calls in some quarters on the NFF not to renew his contract.
In a telephone interview with The Nigerian Xpress Sports, he stated that the coach met the target set for him by NFF which are qualifying Nigeria for the last World Cup as well as taking the country to the semi-finals of the Nations Cup and as such should be retained by the football house.
“I’m surprised that many Nigerians are calling for the sack of Rohr because of the inability of the Super Eagles to beat the Desert Foxes of Algeria and qualify for the finals of the Nations Cup.
“Such people forgot that the target given to the coach was to qualify the country for the 2018 World Cup in Russia as well as take the country to the semi- final of the Africa Nations Cup. For him to have achieved those targets is an indication that he is good and should be allowed to continue with his job without any distractions.
“I also want Nigerians to realise that both the defending champion, Cameroon and the host nation, Egypt crashed out earlier in the tournament and for Nigeria to emerge as the best three teams in a 24 nations tournament and came back with a bronze medal is a credit to the Franco German,” stressed the former BCC Lions and Julius Berger midfielder.
The one time Super Eagles player believes that Rohr and his coaching crew should be encouraged to continue the transformation process of the senior national team which he says is what the country needs now.
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“My appeal to football loving Nigerians and the NFF is to believe in Rohr and give him all the support he needs as he continue with the rebuilding process of the national team. The coach is doing a tremendous job, discovering many Nigerian players abroad and given them chance to represent the country and it’s s this type of rebuilding process our team needs to rediscover itself,” he said.
Fuludu believes that with good support and encouragement, the present crop of Super Eagles will bounce back to reckoning and challenge for honours in future international competitions.
