Super Eagles’ Gaffer Gernot Rohr says Joseph Yobo is yet to report to him following the appointment of the former Everton defender as his assistant.
He made the revelation in an interview with noted African football journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana.
“Yobo has not called me. I don’t have his number. I expect to meet him when I return to Nigeria next week, to prepare for the #AFCON2019 qualifier against Sierra Leone,” Obayiuwana quoted Rohr as saying on Twitter.
.@NGSuperEagles update: Gernot Rohr, the manager of @Nigeria’s national team, tells me that he has not heard from @jyobo234, since the former @Everton defender was appointed by @thenff President @PinnickAmaju as his assistant coach in mid-February. pic.twitter.com/mfpRgbHDGB
— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) March 7, 2020
“When I meet him, I will give him traditional missions normally assigned to an assistant coach,” Rohr continued.
Yobo’s reported failure to communicate seems to have left the Franco-German less than impressed and it appears their relationship is destined to get off to a rocky start.
Rohr even took a veiled jab at the former Super Eagles captain’s lack of coaching experience with an unprompted reference to former assistant Imama Amapakabo’s coaching ability.
“Amapakabo did the real work of a coach on the pitch,” Rohr stated.
Rohr goes on: “@IAmapakabo did the real work of a coach on the pitch.”
— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) March 7, 2020
Rohr had earlier highlighted Yobo’s lack of coaching qualification when news of his appointment broke. The former Bordeaux coach also didn’t hide his displeasure with Amapakabo’s departure.
Read Also: Rohr Points Out Yobo’s Unsuitability For Eagles Job
Yobo who captained the Super Eagles to a third African title in 2013 was installed to assist Rohr in February in place of Amapakabo.
When quizzed about the manner with which his former assistant was replaced which came without his approval, the 56-year-old decided to rather tread with caution.
When I told Rohr that this situation, regarding Yobo, is not normal, he said that “You can say it. But I cannot. Under the terms of my contract, @thenff have the right to do what they have done.” (replace his assistant coach at sudden notice).
— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) March 7, 2020
“You can say it. But I cannot. Under the terms of my contract, the NFF have the right to do what they have done (replace his assistant coach at sudden notice),” Rohr told the journalist.
Rohr who is approaching the final three months of his contract also claimed the Nigeria Football Federation are yet to offer him an extension despite news reports last week that the NFF have sent him terms on a fresh two-year extension.
The NFF had set a February 20 date for discussions with the coach on an extension to his existing deal but Rohr said he’ll meet with NFF president Amaju Pinnick next week to discuss his future.
The Super Eagles face Sierra Leone in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying double-header with the first leg set for Asaba on 27 March and the return fixture billed for Freetown four days later.
A 24-man squad has been released ahead of the tie and players and officials are expected to report to camp in Asaba on 23 March.
