NFF gets 45 days ultimatum to pay Rohr N157m
The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) hierarchies are not off the hook yet after the world soccer governing body ordered Nigeria to pay Rohr $378,000 within 45 days.
By David Meshioye
Irked by Nigeria's failure to adhere to its laws and tenets surrounding the termination of contracts, the Federation of International Football Association(FIFA) has given NFF 45 days ultimatum to pay Gernot Rohr a whopping severance package of $378,000 (about N157million)
The ultimatum is coming following NFF's decision to pull the plug on Rohr's reigns as Super Eagles gaffer on the eve of 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.
According to FIFA, failure to pay the amount at the given date, a restriction will be placed on receiving a percentage of development funding the NFF get from FIFA until the due amounts are paid.
Rohr, 68, had his appointment terminated by the NFF in December 2021, following the poor performance of the Super Eagles during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
The Franco-German got relieved of his post just four weeks before the delayed 2021 AFCON kicked off in Cameroon.
Rohr has been granted $377,879.46 from his initial $1.2million, sought total after a FIFA tribunal decision saw his claim to be “partially accepted in so far as it is admissible.” The ruling by FIFA added that the NFF would be sanctioned if Rohr was not paid in full within 45 days.
“If full payment (including all applicable interest) is not made within 45 days of notification of this decision, the respondent [the NFF] shall be restricted from receiving a percentage of development funding, up until the due amounts are paid,” the body said.
The Nigeria Football Federation then appointed Mr Augustine Eguavoen as the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles on an interim basis following the termination of the Franco-German contract after 64 months in charge.
Eguavoen failed make any appreciable impact at the 2021 AFCON as Nigeria crashed out in the quarter finals. He was sacked on arrival from Cameroon after which Portuguese-born Jose Peseiro was appointed to steer the team.
