NFF board agrees to sack Rohr his $2m severance package remains a stumbling block

NIGERIAN Football Federation (NFF) officials have stepped up the pressure on Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr to resign in response to the team's recent lacklustre performances that saw them limp through to the final round of World Cup qualification.

On Tuesday, the Eagles managed to scrape through to the final qualification round of Qatar 2022 after a very unimpressive 1-1 draw at home with Cape Verde. It capped off what was a dismal performance during qualification with the team losing 0-1 at home to lowly-rated Central African Republic.

With the final round of qualification involving a two-legged knock out tie against much sterner opposition in February, NFF officials are wary of leaving Mr Rohr in charge. Nigeria will either face Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Dr Congo or Mali in the final round and NFF staff are particularly concerned about the fact that Mr Rohr lacks the flexibility to change players or tactics when needed.

Now, the NFF want Mr Rohr out but honouring the severance pay package in his contract is the sticking point but some board members are suggesting a way around it is to get him to resign. One board member said Nigerians have had enough from Mr Rohr and he should be asked to go irrespective of what it entails to severe the contract.

He added: "For how long are we to continue to put up with this kind of performance? Did you see any input of a decent coach in what Eagles displayed in such a crucial World Cup qualifier.

"After seeing how he did not know what to do to tame Argentina when Eagles had the opportunity of cruising past the South Americans into the second round at Russia 2018, some of us said his contract should not be renewed. However, a majority of members said his rebuilding process should not be interrupted but after five years now, where has this so-called rebuilding lead us to."

Mr Rohr earns a $45,000 monthly wage and getting rid of him is likely to cost a severance package of around $2m, which cash-strapped NFF cannot afford at the moment. Even now, it is believed that the NFF is owing Mr Rohr about eight months salary.