‘NFF, Rohr not at war over Moses, Success’

SUPER Eagles technical adviser Gernot Rohr is not at loggerheads with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the choice of players he plans to invite for the next World Cup qualifier against Algeria, Tribunesport has gathered.

It was reported in a section of the media last week that Rohr and some members of the NFF were divided on the coach’s plan to invite Victor Moses and Issac Success for the November 12 match.

The report had said that the NFF members had insisted that both players must be left out of the team while Rohr was said to have made up his mind on inviting the England-based players.

The said NFF members were said to have based their position on how Moses and Success opted out of Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Zambia on October 9. The two players excused themselves from the match which the Super Eagles won 2-1 away from home citing injuries. But the NFF members were said to have doubted the players’ claim as they featured for their English Premiership sides a couple of days after.

But Tribunesport, in an attempt to verify the authenticity of the report was informed that there is nothing of such.

The Secretary-General of the NFF, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, in a reply to a WhatsApp message sent to him, denied the story. “There’s nothing like that my brother” was his response to Tribunesport’s question on the story.

Also, an aide to Rohr denied any form of crisis between the Franco-German and the NFF. According to Tunde Adelakun, the NFF President’s Delegate/Special Envoy on International Relations, the story is “mere propaganda.”

“The Federation has not conveyed any issue to the coach about the matter. It is just a ruse. The coach is basing his choice and selection on players’ performance and attitude, rather than other matters,” Adelakun told Tribunesport in the chat.

Adelakun added: “I know people are trying to use it to cause problem between the coach and the Federation, but it won’t work. The man is strong, he will not even listen to what they are saying. Those behind the propaganda are known faces in the NFF who are in the minority and the coach will not fall for their antics.”

The list of players to prosecute the 2018 World Cup qualifier against Algeria next month will be released in the coming days and it remains to be seen if the two players will be included.