• ‘Most national team players are not committed to national assignment’
Former Super Falcons Coach, Godwin Izilien, has advised Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) against sacking Super Eagles Manager, Gernot Rohr, saying that no coach can transform the team just a few weeks to next year’s Cameroun African Cup of Nations and the last round of Qatar 2022 Cup qualifying series.
Izilien told The Guardian, yesterday, he has noticed that many Super Eagles players’ attitude to national assignment is affecting the team and advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to ensure that only committed players are invited to play for the national team.
Izilien said the recent call for the sack of Rohr is capable of destabilising Super Eagles’ preparations for Cameroun 2022 African Cup of Nations.
“I don’t understand why the call for the sack of Rohr is coming now. People should understand that most of the players in the Super Eagles are loyal to Rohr. So, sacking him will bring disunity in the team at this point.
“The NFF should allow Rohr to take the Super Eagles to the Nations Cup and end his contract peacefully.
“There is no coach that can make any difference in the Super Eagles team just a few months to the AFCON. Sacking Rohr will be costly to the current NFF board and the one coming after them.
“This is because if Rohr is sacked now and is not compensated according to the contract terms, he will use FIFA and the courts to start chasing NFF about. This will bring another distraction to Nigerian football.
“They should allow Rohr to handle the Super Eagles, but pay more attention to the level of commitment shown by players invited to the team.
“If you see the way other African players are committed to their country and club, you will understand that some Nigerian players are just in the national team for fun,” he said.
