AFCON
Four points of interests in the sacking of Gernot Rohr
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Franco-German coach, Gernot Rohr was on Sunday night relieved of his duty as Super Eagles’ manager. It came after weeks of waiting as most Nigerians believed that the sack was just an incident waiting to happen.
Sports Village Square highlights the take-aways of the 12-12 (12 December) event.
- Third foreign coach sacked by Nigeria in 24 years
The sacking of Gernot Rohr marks the third time a foreign coach was sacked by Nigeria since the dismissal of Frenchman, Phillippe Trousier in 1997 after qualifying the Super Eagles for France ’98. The next foreign coach to be fired was Bonfrere Johannes who was dismissed as the Super Eagles lost 0-1 to Sierra Leone on the road to World Cup 2002. The other foreign coaches simply walked out of their duty posts. Among these were Lars Lagerback (Sweden), Berti Vogts (Germany), Thijs Libgrets (Netherlands), Bora Milutinovic (Serbia), Carlos Alberto Torres (Brazil), Clemens Westerhof (Netherlands) and Manfred Hoener (Germany.
- Coach with longest Tenure
No coach had stayed on the saddle for a long time as did the soft speaking and soft acting Gernot Rohr whose single tenure goes down as the longest by any manager of the Nigerian team in 72 years. Employed on 5 August 2016, he spent an unbroken 1,955 days on the job.
This is five years, four months and seven days or 64 months and seven days. The closest to that was Clemens Westerhof who had 1,787 days – four years, 10 months and 22 days.
In terms of number of matches, Rohr had 54. The closest to that was by the late Amodu Shaibu whose four spells of 1994-97; 1999; 2001/02 and 2008-2010 as Super Eagles’ manager cumulatively had 53 matches.
- No back-to-back coach to Afcon in 21 years
The sacking of Rohr means his Africa Cup of Nations’ dreams have been terminated. Only three coaches have back-to-back taken the Nigerian team to the continental premier football competition.
They are Jelisvicic Tihomeir-Tiko (1976 and 1978), Otto Gloria (1980 and 1982) and Clemens Westerhof (1990, 1992 and 1994).
In essence, in 21 years, no coach will take Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations consecutively.
- Eguavoen to have shortest preparation to Afcon
With 27 days to the kick-off of the delayed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, Eguavoen who succeeds Rohr will have the shortest period preparing a Nigerian team to the continental football fiesta.
He is however not a stranger to the competition having featured in the 1988, 1992 and the on-field captain in 1994. He was the coach to the 2006 edition in Egypt.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for their impressive performance in the 4–0 victory over Benin Republic, praising the team for keeping Nigeria’s qualification hopes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup alive.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Adebayo Onanuga, the President lauded the players for their “hunger, passion, and determination” during the crucial qualifier in Uyo, describing their display as one that has “reignited Nigerians’ football pride.”
“While the job is not yet complete, I join millions of Nigerian football fans in wishing our team every success in the playoffs,” Tinubu said. “The mood across the country reflects a shared belief that Nigeria deserves a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada, Mexico, and the United States will host.”
Reaffirming the government’s backing, President Tinubu assured the players and coaching crew of full Federal Government support as they prepare for the decisive play-off stage.
“Nigerians everywhere believe in you, and I do too,” he said. “We look forward to seeing you fly our flag proudly on the world stage.”
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
The Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 has announced a strong start to ticket sales, confirming that 58,000 tickets had been sold as of Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
According to an official update, the enthusiasm for the continental showpiece has also been reflected on the Yalla App, where 145,731 applications have been received so far. In addition, a total of 121,924 FAN IDs have been issued, including 31,058 belonging to foreign nationals representing 108 countries around the world.
In response to the overwhelming demand, the committee disclosed that technical teams are working round the clock to enhance the ticketing and FAN ID systems to ensure smooth processing for fans.
To assist applicants and ensure better communication, the organizers have provided a dedicated customer service line: +212 5 30 30 20 30. The hotline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in Arabic, English, and French, and is staffed by over 600 agents trained to respond to inquiries and provide user support.
Fans can also reach the support team via email at info@yallamorocco.ma.
The Organizing Committee expressed gratitude to supporters, media representatives, delegations, and partners for their enthusiasm and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering a seamless and memorable experience for all stakeholders during AFCON Morocco 2025.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Ticket sales for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 will officially open on Monday, 13 October 2025, with an exclusive 48-hour pre-sale window reserved for Visa cardholders, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced.
Fans across Africa and around the world will be able to secure their seats for what promises to be the continent’s biggest football spectacle, which will run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
The special Visa pre-sale period will run from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) until Wednesday, 15 October at 08:00 GMT, before general ticket sales open to all fans using other payment methods.
To streamline ticket purchases and enhance security, the Local Organizing Committee has launched the YALLA App, an integrated digital platform for fans to obtain their Fan ID — a mandatory requirement for buying tickets — and apply for E-Visas (AEVM) where necessary.
According to organizers, each registered Fan ID allows supporters to buy only one ticket per match, ensuring wider access and transparency in ticket distribution.
The process for obtaining tickets is straightforward:
- Download the YALLA App, available on Google Play and the App Store.
- Apply for a Fan ID and E-Visa (if required) through the app.
- Once approved, Visa cardholders can visit tickets.cafonline.com starting from Monday, 13 October at 09:00 Moroccan time (08:00 GMT) to purchase their AFCON 2025 tickets.
The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is expected to deliver a festival of football and culture, with fans urged to complete their Fan ID registration early to avoid last-minute rushes.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Black Bulls Edge Rivers United 1–0 in CAF Champions League Clash
Super Eagles Share Goals Among 10 Scorers as Osimhen Nears Yekini’s Record
National Institute for Sports to Establish South-West Zonal Office in Ogun State
- World Cup1 week ago
CAF Rule Change May Boost Nigeria’s World Cup Qualification Hopes
- World Cup4 days ago
Victor Osimhen qualifies South Africa for World Cup as Super Eagles go for Play-Off
- World Cup1 week ago
BREAKING! Lookman Suspended for Crucial Benin Clash
- World Cup1 week ago
Judgment Day Beckons in Group C: Only One Ticket, Three Contenders, Infinite Drama
- FIFA RANKING1 day ago
Nigeria Jumps Four Places in New FIFA Rankings; Stirs Optimism in Local Football Circles
- World Cup1 week ago
Super Eagles Stranded in Angola After Aircraft Suffers Cracked Windscreen
- World Cup1 week ago
Akor Adams Becomes Nigeria’s 61st Scoring Debutant
- Nigerian Football1 week ago
GTI Assets Champions Football Investment as Catalyst for National Development