Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick has disagreed with the Super Eagles Manager; Gernot Rohr over the latter’s comments that the Nigerian teams are not favourites to win the 2019 African Cup of Nations trophy this summer in Egypt. NFF President Pinnick (right) shakes hands with Gernot Rohr after the contract extension The Super Eagles were the first team to qualify for the tournament on the continent and at the weekend they put the ice on the cake by beating Seychelles 3-1 to finish top of a group which also has South Africa and Libya.
But despite these bright sparks by the team, Coach Rohr has consistently maintained that his team were not amongst the four favourites to lift the AFCON trophy in Egypt and at the weekend further impressed it upon fans that it would be stupid of him to believe that his charges were good to go for the top honours in African football. “We are not among the favourites to win the Nations Cup trophy and it would be stupid for me to believe that we are going to win it”, said Rohr.
But disagreeing with the coach, who the NFF employed and have consistently paid his salary promptly without default, Pinnick said that he was expecting the Super Eagles to go for the ultimate prize at Egypt 2019. “When you have a child and prepare him for an exam, your expectation is for the child to excel and that is the same expectation I have for the Super Eagles at the upcoming Nations Cup in Egypt. I expect them to go and compete for the trophy, nothing more, and nothing less. “My expectations are not overreaching because they are amongst the top four countries on the continent, which if they play to their best strength should guarantee them a place in the semifinals and from that position, the cup is within their reach”, added Pinnick. Vanguard
Pix: Amaju Pinnick, NFF Boss
