Foremost Nigerian stand-up comedian, Atunyota Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, has joined others to call for the sack of Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr.
Rohr has faced scrutiny following the Eagles’ run of four games without a win in 2020.
It further increased after the country’s sports minister Sunday Dare took to social media to question the ‘suitability and competence’ of the coach on the back of the Eagles goalless draw away to Sierra Leone in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
They had earlier in the reverse fixture let a 4-0 lead slip at home as the Leone Stars fought back to draw 4-4.
Reacting to a question on PUNCH Online interview programme, Stars Talk Football, on Thursday, where he was asked if he supported the call for Rohr’s sack, Alibaba said, “Yes sir. Let me put it this way, Gernot Rohr is a friend. I met him a few times through Amaju Pinnick, I believe our football is not going anywhere with all the clauses that were signed with him.
“If (Sunday) Oliseh had such clauses he would work tirelessly. Clemence Westerhof never had such and he is one the most successful coaches we had. You heard Emmanuel Amuneke saying he can’t be an assistant to him.
“Our coach shouldn’t wait until there is a match before he starts reaching out to players. He should scout and get homegrown players that will play always.
“It’s not just waiting for 100 per cent foreign players. We are not there yet at all. Even Fanny Amun is still more successful than Rohr.”
Rohr took charge of the three-time African champions in August 2016 and led them to a third-place finish at the 2019 African Cup of Nations – after the team had missed back to back tournaments in 2015 and 2017.
Credit: punchng.com
