Rohr ‘fights’ Amaju Over Super Eagles Friendly venue

NFF rejects Super Eagles players inclusion in U-23 team

Gernot Rohr has strongly disagreed with the hierarchy of Nigeria Football Federation over the choice of Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba to host the Super Eagles' friendly against Egypt on March 26.

GoalBall gathered that the Super Eagles coach believes the Asaba stadium pitch is not good enough to host such a game between two of Africa's biggest teams, but the NFF top shots insisting on taking the game to the Delta State capital.

The NFF also intend to stage the Eagles' last match in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers at the same stadium, named in honour of former Eagles captain and coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi.

Just as it was for the last Eagles' friendly game, which also held at Stephen Keshi Stadium, the NFF top brass believes it would be cost effective to take The Pharaohs of Egypt to the same arena.

The Eagles' first friendly in 2019 will come up only four days after they battle Seychelles in their last AFCON qualifier, which is a non-consequential match, as Nigeria has already qualified with a game to spare.

The argument being forwarded by officials at The Glasshouse is that Asaba would be the best option for both games, to save costs and due to logistics issues, especially as the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, is again willing to foot the bills.

Few nonconformist voices in the soccer governing body are of a view that a major attachment for Asaba comes from the fact that NFF president, Amaju Pinnick is from that State, and is inclined towards leaving a legacy behind as gains from his unprecedented two-term tenure at the head of Nigerian football.

This article was most recently revised and updated 4 years ago

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