Rohr: Pinnick cost Nigeria a 2022 World Cup spot

by Staff Reporter

Saturday Nov 19, 2022. 11:00

Former Nigeria head coach Gernot Rohr has slammed Amaju Pinnick for the team’s failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals.

Rohr endured a frosty relationship with ex-Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) president Pinnick during the former’s reign in charge of the Super Eagles.

The German tactician was dismissed last December after guiding the Super Eagles to the playoff round where they were eliminated by Ghana under coach Augustine Eguavoen.

“Pinnick said my dismissal will avert a disaster, but in the end he created the disaster that cost Nigeria the ticket to the World Cup,” Rohr said on Punch Nigeria.

“I regret that I did not take my team to win the World Cup, I regret that my players will not be at the World Cup even though they deserve to be there.”

Rohr, who was in charge of the West African giants between 2016 and 2021, led Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

“It was not my decision, it was a decision by Pinnick and his board,” the former Burkina Faso and Gabon head coach continued.

“He was punished for this as Nigeria lost the chance to win the AFCON and did not qualify for the World Cup.”

The 69-year-old has remained jobless since he was dismissed by the NFF.