Amuneke May Replace Gernot Rohr As Eagles Coach - Latest Sports in Nigeria

Amuneke May Replace Gernot Rohr As Eagles Coach - Latest Sports in Nigeria

By Admin

Former African Player of the Year Emmanuel Amuneke has been touted as one of the leading candidates for the Super Eagles job should negotiations between the current handler of the team Gernot Rohr and his employers Nigeria Football Federation completely break down.

The NFF has been reluctant to offer the German coach a new contract with less down six months to the expiration of his current deal. Although negotiations between the two parties are expected to resume later in the month, sources have said the coach had hinted his associates he would not accept those conditions the federation mentioned in the media.

However, according to OperaNews the NFF had penciled down a list of five candidates for the job should Rohr rejects the deal. Although Amuneke’s name was not on the initial list drawn by the federation, OperaNews reliably learnt that powerful people in government were already pushing for the former Barcelona player to be considered.

“It is very unlikely that Rohr will retain his job,” a very senior official said. “I can tell you that the NFF chieftains are not keen on keeping the German and that is why they have made condition of service a lot more stringent for him in the new contract they are about to table.

“They are not leaving anything to chance and they have already drawn a list of candidates they wish to approach should Rohr reject the new deal. No local coach is included but I can tell you that some people in government are trying to prevail on the federation to consider Amuneke.

A particular top official of government believes the former Tanzania coach has what it takes to manage the Eagles not only because he was a successful player during his time but his burgeoning coaching career has placed him as one of the best tacticians on the continent.

“No many people knew that Amuneke was actually sounded out for the Super Falcons job after the erstwhile Manager Thomas Dennerby abandoned the team last year. It was the same senior official that spoke with the former Golden Eaglets coach if he would be willing to take up the national women side but the former Zamalek of Egypt star politely turned down the offer, saying he would prefer to manage only a male side not female.”

Amuneke who led the Golden Eaglets to the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup title, qualified the Taifa Stars of Tanzania to the 2019 African Cup of Nations in Egypt.