Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Mr Amaju Pinnick, announced monday that Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Mr Gernot Rohr, has been given a new contract till 2020 after he guided Nigeria to next year’s World Cup in Russia.
Pinnick announced Rohr’s new deal at the launching of a short code – *1945# – which will be used for all campaigns at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
He also disclosed the coach has been paid his salaries till December 2017.
Rohr, 64, signed an initial two-year deal in July 2016 with the provision of an extension if he qualified the country to Russia 2018.
The Franco-German coach has been widely credited with the country’s qualification from ‘The Group of Death’, which had African champions Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia.
Skipper John Mikel Obi praised Rohr’s attention to details, saying he has transformed the Eagles using a fine blend of young, exciting players and experienced campaigners.
Meanwhile, the short code – *1945# – will be used for all campaigns that are geared towards Nigeria’s preparation and participation at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.
The event was organised in conjunction with Secure and Trusted Alliance Services Limited – STA Mobile.
NFF 2nd Vice President/LMC Chairman Mr Shehu Dikko, who is also Chairman of Marketing, Sponsorship and Television Advisory Committee, disclosed that the short code would be available for use by all NFF partners, sponsors and suppliers, in the process also revealing an ‘Official Supporter’ programme into which corporate concerns not presently in relationship with the NFF can lodge to be part of Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup excitement train.
In explaining the idea behind the short code, STA’s Managing Director, Mr Biodun Jagun, and a clutch of NFF’s current partners, including AITEO Group, Zenith Bank and TGI Group said the plan is for a total of 100 fans of the Super Eagles to win all-expenses paid trip to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, in four tranches of 25 people-a-month between January and April 2018.
“The Naija 4 Russia initiative is born in due season as a feel-good factor for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, which is at its highest-ever in the recent history of Nigerian Football.. For the first time in the history of football in Nigeria, we have a VAS platform for the fans and supporters of Nigerian Football by way of a short code.
Earlier, Pinnick had revealed that failure to qualify for two straight AFCONS was what pushed the Super Eagles to qualify for next year’s World Cup.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 and 2017 AFCONS and Pinnick said that spurred the NFF to ensure the country did not miss out on the World Cup in Russia.
“We knew we were condemned to qualify, and everybody worked hard for it,” he said.
“We identified areas that needed extra effort and also knew that we needed to get a top–notch coach as well as be relevant in the game’s boardroom internationally.
“We scored bull’s eye in both areas and these helped us greatly in the campaign.”
He again restated his belief the Eagles fly high at Russia 2018.
“I want to also commend the players and the technical crew and backroom staff,” he saluted.
“They aligned with the vision of the board and the secretariat and I have immense confidence that Nigeria can really dazzle the world at the World Cup in Russia next year.”
NFF also revealed that it was targeting the sum of N2 billion from corporate organisations to support the Super Eagles’ preparation and participation at the World Cup.
Thisday