Former Super Eagles Coach Bonfrere Jo ‘Begs’ NFF to Give him Rohr's Job, Reveals How He'll Improve the Team

Former Super Eagles Coach Bonfrere Jo ‘Begs’ NFF to Give him Rohr's Job, Reveals How He'll Improve the Team

Nomso Obiajuru
updated at April 12, 2023 at 7:53 PM
  • Bonfrere Jo has written a letter to NFF to appoint him as head coach of the Super Eagles 20 years after he was sacked
  • The Dutchman led Nigeria’s U-23 team to win gold at Atlanta ‘96 Olympics and also led the Super Eagles to a second-place finish at AFCON 2000
  • Bonfrere Jo was sacked in 2001 after losing a World Cup qualifier in Sierra Leone but before then, he was assistant coach to Clemens Westerhof between 1990 and 1994

Former Super Eagles coach Bonfrere Jo has urged the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to re-instate him as head coach of the national team 20 years after he was sacked.

According to a report on Guardian, Bonfrere Jo who won the gold medal for Nigeria at Atlanta '96 Olympics, believes no one has done what he has achieved.

Bonfrere Jo been lifted by the Nigeria U-23 team after helping the side win gold at Atlanta 96 Olympics.
Bonfrere Jo been lifted by the Nigeria U-23 team after helping the side win gold at Atlanta 96 Olympics. Photo by Bob Thomas Sports Photography
Source: Getty Images

Recall that Bonfrere Jo led the Super Eagles to the African Nations Cup in 2000, where Nigeria lost in the final to Cameroon in Lagos.

He was sacked in 2001 after losing a World Cup qualifier in Sierra Leone but before then, he was assistant coach to Clemens Westerhof between 1990 and 1994.

The Dutchman led Nigeria’s U-23 team to win gold at Atlanta ‘96 Olympics.

In a letter to NFF, Bonfrere Jo has now urged the Nigeria football governing body to bring him back as head coach of the Super Eagles as pressure continues to mount on current coach Gernot Rohr.

Bonfrere Jo said: “I will be happy to have Daniel Amokachi or Emmanuel Amuneke to be part of my technical crew.
“I will bring licensed and experienced coaches in addition to the mentioned names to be part of the team to train the players in their movement, fitness, positions, and abilities. After this is executed, the whole of Nigeria will be watching the national team play while drinking champagne because it is guaranteed that Nigeria is winning the match.
“The players can’t hold the ball to themselves for up to three seconds. I am not trying to castigate my colleague (Gernot Rohr), but his knowledge needs to be upgraded to the new modern football. In this era, the Super Eagles need to have a pattern. When I was the coach, it is guaranteed my players score a goal and more with respect to the kind of formation and pattern I use.
“It was so embarrassing to see Central Africa Republic, a country that doesn’t have its own stadium, to come to Nigeria and win the Super Eagles. The kind of pattern the coach use matters a lot.

NFF denies sacking Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has denied reports that Super Eagles head Gernot Rohr has been sacked.

There was news making the round that the German gaffer has been relieved of his duties as the national team coach.

The 68-year-old who was appointed as coach of the three-time African champions in 2015 has had an unconvincing run at the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Though the Nigerian side finished top of Group C, the team were held to a 1-1 scoreline by Cape Verde in the final game played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Rohr's men also suffered a shocking defeat to the Central African Republic in their third group game in Lagos before taking revenge with a 2-0 win in the second leg.

During the AFCON 2022 qualifiers, the Super Eagles also surrendered a 4-0 lead to draw 4-4 against Sierra Leone on home soil.

With the strings of events in the past few months, reports had circulated that Rohr has been sacked as Super Eagles boss.

However, the NFF has released an official statement that the German tactician is still in charge of the West African side.

Former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu claims he can motivate Super Eagles players better than Rohr

Meanwhile, Legit.ng also reported that a former governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, has boasted that he can perform much better than Gernot Rohr, the Super Eagles coach.

The Senate chief whip said this in reaction to the team's 1-1 draw with the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The senator on Friday, November 19, stated that Rohr was as good as the last match which ended in a somewhat disappointing draw.

Kanu said that he is a better motivator than the German-born coach, adding that he lacks, style of play and stamina.

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Nomso Obiajuru photo
Nomso Obiajuru
Team Lead- Football
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