Gernot Rohr has taken a full broadside at former NFF president Amaju Pinnick for the decision to sack him leading up to Nigeria failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, which kicks off in Qatar Sunday.
Rohr was fired midway through the qualifying series for the World Cup and replaced by Augustine Eguavoen, who then led the country to a forgettable AFCON outing in Cameroon before the team lost in a final World Cup playoffs to arch-rivals Ghana.
“Pinnick said my dismissal will avert a disaster, but in the end he created the disaster that cost Nigeria the ticket to the World Cup,” Rohr told Eagle7FM Sports Radio in an interview anchored by Osasu Obayiuwana.
“I regret that I did not take my team to win the World Cup, I regret my players will not be at the World Cup even though they deserve to be there.
“It was not my decision, it was a decision by Pinnick and his board.
“He was punished for this as Nigeria lost the chance to win the AFCON and did not qualify for the World Cup.
“I hope he takes better decisions now as a member of the FIFA Council.”
The Franco-German was owed six months’ salary when he was fired and the NFF will still have to pay him the remainder of his contract in US Dollars as ruled by FIFA.
Rohr further said in this very revealing interview that his relationship with Pinnick in the last month of his time as Eagles coach was “difficult”.
He also said he did not enjoy the support of the Sports Minister (Sunday Dare) and this he got to know from the various interviews the minister granted as it concerns him.
He said he tried to reach the minister after some of these “very negative statements”, but he did not get a response.
The Super Eagles will not be at Qatar 2022, but Rohr will be there for media work.
He said he will greet Pinnick normally should their paths cross in Qatar.
Rohr has not ruled out a return to coaching.
He said since his departure from Nigeria, he has been busy with his two hotels, helping his former French club Bordeaux to return to Ligue 1 after relegation last season and also spending more quality time with his youngest children.
