Rohr: Eagles’ Semi-Final Mandate At Russia 2018 ‘Excessive’, Searches For Top-Class Keeper For Mundial

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr

Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has revealed that the Nigeria Football Federation ha​s​ handed his team a semi-final target at the 2018 ​​FIFA World Cup in Russia, but he describes it as ‘excessive’, ‎Completesportsnigeria.com reports.

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The Super Eagles’ best finish at the FIFA World Cup so far is Second Round which the team achieved thrice, at USA 1994, France 1998 and Brazil 2014​.​

Rohr who led the Super Eagles to qualify for their sixth World Cup appearance from​ a tough African qualifying Group B with a game to spare, was quick to state that the dream​ of the top brass in the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF)​ is a bit excessive​.​

The Super Eagles recorded 13 points from five games with their closest rival, Zambia amassing seven points from the same number of games.

“We will try to do well in Russia. Unfortunately, the ambitions are a little excessive,” Rohr told French daily, L’Équipe in an interview.

“The team must get at least to the semi-finals. We have the ambition of the leaders to manage, even if I get along very well with the president (Amaju Pinnick), who came to get me (for employment), it’s never easy. But for now, it’s going very well.

“It’s a new challenge, a new adventure that’s coming. Participating in the most important tournament in the world, with the best teams, is something every player and coach dream about. To live that (dream) is already an achievement, even if it does not mean that we will reach the end. It’s a dedication for me who has been leading national teams for many years.

“I had already done some interesting things, African Cups for example, but really, qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup is a plus. It gives me a lot of joy and satisfaction of course.”

The Franco German tactician also revealed that the President of the Nigerian Football Federation NFF Amaju Pinnick has promised to extend his contract by two years.

Rohr’s two-year deal with the NFF runs out in July 31, 2018.

“The President (Pinnick) has already told me before the World Cup that it (the contract) will be extended by two years, whatever the results in Russia,” the former Gabon, Niger and Burkina Faso coach told L’Équipe.

Rohr also advised the NFF to sort out the World Cup qualification bonus before the tournament in Russia.

Rohr warned on Monday of the possible negative impact on the performance of his team at the 2018 World Cup, which distracted Stephen Keshi’s team at 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Recall that during the 2014 World Cup, the ​​Super Eagles refused to train ahead of their Second Round clash against France, to protest against the non-payment of a qualifying bonus.

Nigeria will receive a bonus of US$12.5 million (€ 10.6 million) from FIFA for qualifying for the World Cup, a sum that the 37 players who took part in the play-offs should share.

“The question of bonuses and allowances, which is often a problem for African teams during the World Cup, should be avoided. Such a debate would be detrimental to our preparation,” Rohr added.

“I told the officials and the president of the Federation that all these issues had to be decided before the start of the competition.”

Rohr Searches For Top-Class Keeper For World Cup

Media reports that Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr is considering his options as he looks to arrive at the Russia 2018 World Cup with a top-class goalkeeper.

The Super Eagles were plunged into a goalkeeping crisis after the team’s first choice keeper Carl Ikeme was diagnosed with acute leukaemia in July.

And it is believed that Ikeme, who is currently undergoing treatment, has a remote chance of playing in Russia.

Rohr  opted for South Africa-based Daniel  Akpeyi  for the  2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Africa in Uyo on June 10, but the Chippa United keeper’s choice backfired as Nigeria succumbed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat by Bafana Bafana.

The German manager decided to ditch Akpeyi for Ifeanyi Ubah custodian Ikechukwu Ezenwa for the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifying double-header against African champions Cameroon – and the domestic star kept a clean sheet as the Eagles pounded their fierce rivals 4-0 in Uyo before battling to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture in Yaoundé.

Despite Ezenwa progressing to pull off some excellent saves to help Nigeria beat Zambia 1-0 in Uyo on October 7 to qualify for their sixth World Cup, our correspondent learnt that Rohr is not convinced that the 29-year-old is good enough for a starting role at the football’s showpiece event in Russia.

The former Gabon coach has reportedly been tasked with a semifinal berth for his team in Russia and he believes he needs a top-class keeper to achieve the goal.

It was learnt that it was one major reason why Rohr decided to revive his pursuit of veteran France-based keeper Vincent Enyeama.

The former Burkina Faso coach ran into a roadblock when he tried to persuade the 35-year-old ex-Nigeria captain, who represented the country at the 2002, 2010 and 2014 World Cups, to come out of international retirement to help the country qualify for the Russia finals.

With Lille star Enyeama, who called it quits with the Eagles in October 2015 after a major falling out with ex-Nigeria coach Sunday Oliseh, allegedly evasive about his return to the national team, Rohr has decided to shift his attention towards Girona teenage keeper Francis Uzoho.

UAE 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup winner Uzoho made history as the first  foreign teenage keeper to play in the Spanish La Liga after keeping a clean sheet to  help  Girona secure  a point in their 0-0 draw against Eibar on October 15.

Nigeria goalkeeping coach Alloy Agu confirmed on Tuesday that they are keeping a tab on 18-year-old Uzoho.

“We are watching, we hope he continues to do well at top level,” the Tunisia ’94 Africa Cup of Nations winner was quoted by Scorenigeria.com as saying.