By Akinwale Kasali

After so much brickbats, the over Five years romance of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and Franco-German Coach, Gernot Rohr as finally come to an end.

The sack of the former Super Eagles Coach was long expected and after months of deliberation by the Amaju Pinnick led NFF; the Sport Ministry and stakeholders of Nigerian Football, he was finally booted out.

Nigeria soccer enthusiasts, fans and analysts have called for the sack of the former Girondins Bordeaux Coach following the lackluster performances of the Super Eagles at the Group phase of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualification Series, after the 1-0 loss to Central African Republic in Lagos and the abysmal performance of the team in totality.

Nigerians has however hailed the sack of Rohr, as encomiums have been showered on the NFF for taking such decision as the nation’s prepare for the 2022 African Cup of Nations in Cameroon in few weeks time.

The NFF terminated the contract Rohr and appointed ex-international, Augustine Eguavoen, currently it’s Technical Director, as the Technical Adviser on an interim basis.

Eguavoen’s appointment is with immediate effect, and ends the NFF’s relationship with Franco-German Gernot Rohr, who has been in charge of the three-time African champions for the past 64 months and is Nigeria’s longest-serving manager.

Following a virtual meeting of the NFF Executive Committee on Sunday, it was decided that Eguavoen will work with Salisu Yusuf (Chief Coach); Paul Aigbogun (Assistant Coach); Joseph Yobo (Assistant Coach); Dr Terry Eguaoje (Assistant Coach) and Aloysius Agu (Goalkeeper Trainer).

Former Nigeria captains Augustine ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu and Garba Lawal have been appointed to provide technical and ambassadorial support for the crew.

“The relationship between the Nigeria Football Federation and Mr Rohr has come to an end. We thank him for his services to the Super Eagles and Nigeria,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi said.

“We also want to thank the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports for their collaboration and guidance all through.”

Eguavoen, a former Nigeria captain, was coach of the squad when it finished in third place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt in 2006. He was on-field captain when the Super Eagles lifted the Africa Cup for the first time on away ground, in Tunisia 27 years ago.

He will now take charge of the team as it begins preparations for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Cameroon 9th January – 6th February 2022, and until the appointment of a substantive head coach.

Sport journalist, Godwin Enakhena, said that the sack of Rohr is long expected, stressing that putting ex-internationals in the saddle will do the nation a lot of good and propel the nation forward.

In the same vein, another Sport Journalist, Jerry Musa, said that the NFF has taken a step in the right direction.

“This is good news and a good development for our football. Rohr has done our football more harm than good. The Super Eagles flair wasn’t there, we just a shadow of ourselves. I believe this crop of Coaches that have good history in the game will have an impact in the team and take us back to where we belong at the top stage”.