Gernot Rohr To Get New Contract Offer “Within Next Ten Days” But Must Agree To Stringent Conditions – Amaju Pinnick

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr will receive the first offer of an extension to his contract “in the next ten days” Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has revealed.

Rohr’s contract runs out in June and although the NFF had set out many timelines for opening contract talks with the 56-year-old, no firm offer has emerged.

However, speaking on The Morning Show on Arise TV on Monday, Pinnick confirmed that a definite offer will be sent to Gernot Rohr “within the next one week to ten days”.

Pinnick said many factors including the global coronavirus pandemic held up efforts to begin talks on a new contract earlier but that the NFF is determined to ensure talks are concluded before the expiration of Rohr’s current contract.

The NFF president said while the federation is minded to retain the services of Rohr, the former Gabon coach’s continued stay at the helm of the Super Eagles will be dependent on him agreeing to certain non-negotiable clauses in the new contract.

Chief among the terms Rohr must agree to, Pinnick said, include a stipulation to live permanently in any Nigerian city of his choice and being paid the dollar equivalent of his salary in naira “to protect our currency”.

Pinnick said the need for Rohr to live in Nigeria is to ensure that he “goes around to see how to nurture domestic players and make them a part of the [Super Eagles]”.

“[Rohr] should not just rely on second-hand reports about domestic players,” Pinnick said. “He needs to help domestic players actualise their dreams of playing international football”.

Pinnick reiterated the federation’s preference to retain the Franco-German for the next AFCON and World Cup, but said despite Rohr having “done so well” in his time in charge, the NFF will not hesitate to jettison him if he baulks at the terms of his new contract because “nobody is indispensable”.

“We believe he has done so well and we can maintain this dynamic and relationship. We have a young, talented and disciplined team and we believe they can do very well in the next Africa Cup of Nations and the next World Cup.

“The only thing that can impugn it is if Rohr refuses the terms of the contract.”

Rohr has had a relatively successful spell in charge of the Super Eagles since his appointment in 2016.

He led the Super Eagles to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and qualified the national team for its first Africa Cup of Nations in two editions leading the team to a third-place finish in Egypt last year.

Since taking charge of his first game against Tanzania on 3 September 2016, Rohr has overseen a total of 40 matches, winning 23, losing nine and drawing eight over four years.

The Super Eagles have also scored 61 goals and conceded 34 in his time in charge.