Chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are miffed over comments by Super Eagles’ coach Gernot Rohr concerning John Mikel Obi’s return to the squad which seems to undermine the other players’ contributions to the team’s success in his absence.
The glasshouse chiefs are worried that Rohr’s comments were capable of dividing the squad members into factions, which had been eliminated by the football’s house, pointing out that: ” Rohr is about to reintroduce mafia groupings in the team with the way he is eulogising Mikel as the team’s redeemer.
”Some players are already complaining about the manager’s comments, stressing that they did well in Mikel’s absence, even though they acknowledged the immense contribution Mikel brings to the squad when he plays. The coach has been talking too much instead of facing the task of assembling a winning squad for Nigeria at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations which begins on June 21.
Asked if the federation will call the coach to order over his media comments, the NFF chief said: ”He has a right to express hismelf when faced with questions from the media. But he must at all times consider the fact the game’s strength rests with teamwork. No player is bigger than the others. However, we may be forced to place a shut up order on him for certain issues such as comments on players and their chances of making the team to the Africa Cup of Nations”