Former Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr has criticised team's lack of progress since his departure. The 70-year-old German trainer, as many will recall, served as the manager of the Nigeria senior national team from 2016 to 2021. He was dismissed just before the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) began.
Nigeria stumbled at the AFCON three weeks after Rohr was let go, bowing out of the tournament in the Round of 16 with a defeat to Tunisia.
Few months later, the Super Eagles suffered a setback by failing to secure qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, allowing Ghana to claim the spot for Qatar instead.
Shortly after, Jose Peseiro was appointed as the new manager of the Super Eagles, replacing Austin Eguavoen, who had been serving in an interim capacity following Rohr's departure.
Now the manager of the Benin senior national team, Rohr believes that none of his successors have been able to advance the Super Eagles stylistically.
It's worth noting that Nigeria and Benin are in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and are expected to face each other in June.
Since taking over the Benin job in February 2023, Rohr has played 10 games- won one-drawn four and lost five.
Gernot Rohr's critique of Super Eagles' style and lack of progress
In quotes first reported by Nigerian outlet OwngoalNigeria, Rohr voiced his views on the progress of the Nigerian national team since his departure, stating, “They haven't really made the progress they thought they would when I was asked to leave.”
Reflecting on his time with the Super Eagles, Rohr highlighted the importance of the players he left behind and questioned the playing style employed during the African Cup of Nations (CAN), remarking, “It's even more about the players I left behind and a style that wasn't the best at the CAN.”
Despite this, Rohr acknowledges the potential of the Super Eagles, noting their proximity to the group leaders in the qualifiers.
“They are only two points behind the group leaders (Rwanda), and that is an advantage they can overturn in the next round. We cannot rule out a team with the quality of the Nigerian team. Every team in the group knows it.”
Nigeria has drawn their initial two matches in the series against Zimbabwe and Lesotho, positioning them in third place, trailing behind the leaders Rwanda with 4 points and South Africa with 3 points.
Assessing Gernot Rohr's performance as Super Eagles Manager
Over the course of his tenure, which spanned five years, Rohr led the team through a total of 64 matches, leaving a significant imprint on Nigerian football.
He guided the Super Eagles to 35 victories, suffered 13 losses and endured 16 drawn games. One of the notable aspects of Rohr's tenure was his ability to maintain a winning percentage of 54.69%.
Rohr guided the Super Eagles to the 2018 FIFA World Cup following a 1–0 victory against Zambia. Additionally, on July 17, 2019, he steered Nigeria to a third-place position in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Notable players enhanced under Gernot Rohr's Super Eagles tenure
Rohr's tenure as the manager of the Super Eagles saw the development and enhancement of several notable players who have become integral in the current setup.
While some of these players had already represented Nigeria at various youth levels before Rohr's arrival, it was under his guidance that they flourished and established themselves as key figures in the national team setup.
Players like Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Joe Aribo,Francis Uzoho and Wilfred Ndidi, along with Ola Aina and William Troost-Ekong, are just a few who rose to prominence in the Super Eagles during Rohr's tenure.
