Gernot Rohr to continue as Eagles coach as he plans agreeing a new contract next month

SUPER Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has said he is planning to continue in his job on the run-up to the 2022 World Cup and will as such meet with Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials next month to agree on the terms of his new contract.

Mr Rohr, 66, took over the Eagles in August 2016 and has since guided the team to the World Cup and the 2019 African Cup of Nations. However, his four year contract is up for review in June this year and although the coach has done well with regards to rebuilding the team, there is concern that he does not spend enough time in Nigeria and as such has not been able to uncover local talent.

As a  result, the NFF has inserted a new clause in his contract that will compel him to live in Nigeria and scout the local league for players. NFF president Amaju Pinnick has revealed that the federation's new contract will terminate the arrangement under which Mr Rohr lives in France and only flies into Nigeria only when the Eagles have engagements.

This new contract will state that he lives in Nigeria and is allowed to go on three holidays abroad a year. Also, the coach will not get an improved pay from his $55,000 per month deal, although this time around, his salary will not be exempt from tax.

Mr Rohr said: “We will see the leaders soon as a meeting is planned for the month of February and possibly before the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches in March. We can agree on the new contract.

“I have been there for more than three years and it is long for Nigeria because rarely can a coach be maintained as long. It was possible because the results were good, the team has evolved and that we accomplished the mission of rejuvenation."

Over the last three-and-a-half years, Mr Rohr has a respectable record with over 39 games, with 22 wins, seven draws and 10 losses. He added that he is interested in continuing with the job because there are promising young players coming through.

“We managed to find a scorer in Victor Osimhen, we have Samuel Chukweze who plays at Villarreal and Samuel Kalu from Bordeaux who plays very well. So we have a very young, promising team and I would like to continue,” Mr Rohr added.