The cold war between the president of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF) Amaju Pinnick and Gernot Rohr has been severally played down but in reality there is no love lost between both men.
Pinnick has been loud on the issue of a new contract to the coach with his present contract set to expire in June. Although the NFF hierarchy are opened to handing the Franco-German new terms, there are conditions in the deal included for it to happen.
Conditions like living in Nigeria, scouting players from the Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL) and also to start earning in Naira and not dollars as contained in his last contract.
The conditions is seen by many as a ploy to force the coach out after a clash over players invited for the national team and also the ones picked for games with Rohr refusing to shift grounds on including or dropping some players on the request of Pinnick.
Both men disagreed over the inclusion of some players with Pinnick wanting a certain player out of the team while Rohr insist on the player and even went ahead to play the player ahead of a certain player favoured by Pinnick.
When Nigeria crashed out in the semi-final at AFCON 2019, Pinnick felt Rohr didn’t pick the best players and formation for the game. He was also vocal and openly criticized Rohr for his management of the game which saw Nigeria crash out via a late goal scored by Riyadh Mahrez.
Owngoalnigeria.com gathered that both men have severally clashed on players selection and lineups with Rohr guilty of losing his cool most times he in what has now become their usual heated exchange when the Super Eagles congregate.
From now, Rohr will likely accept the terms in the contract but it will be after some areas are adjusted with the coach confirming in an interview that he can work for same salary and condition but wants freedom and a conducive environment to work in.
