Former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, says he was “surprised” when Ibrahim Gusau was elected President of the Nigeria Football Federation September 30 in Benin City, The PUNCH reports.
Gusau succeeded Amaju Pinnick as the 35th NFF president at the body’s 78th Elective Congress held at the Edo Heritage Hotel, Benin City, defeating Idah Peterside in the re-run race.
Peterside, who got one vote in the first round, ended up with a solitary vote in the re-run, while Gusau polled 39 votes to emerge victorious.
Gusau had 21 votes after the first ballot but it was enough to win the election as outgoing NFF VPs Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko finished as runner-up and second runner-up with 12 and six votes respectively.
But Gusau’s emergence as the country’s No.1 footballer administrator came as a surprise, according to Franco-German Rohr.
“We heard that the ex-president (Pinnick) installed him (Gusau)… I am surprised to see him in this position,” Rohr told The PUNCH in an exclusive interview.
The ex-Eagles coach was perhaps referring to allegations on social media that Pinnick posted a message in a WhatsApp group of FA presidents in Africa that he had successfully installed Gusau as his successor.
“There’s a lot of work for the new NFF President,” Rohr added. “Nigerian football needs better infrastructure, an efficient reorganisation of the youth setup and a regular league competition. Coaches, managers and leaders need more support. The Super Eagles are a driving force and should find the status they deserve in world football.”
Rohr, Nigeria’s longest serving coach, was in charge of the Eagles from 2016 to 2021, leading the Eagles in 58 matches, winning 31, with 13 drawn and 14 lost.
Our correspondent learnt on Tuesday that Gusau held his first meeting with members of his executive board to chart a new course for Nigerian football.
