Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr recounts 'unforgettable incident'

Rohr, who had successful playing spells at Bayern Munich and Girondins Bordeaux, transitioned into coaching after retiring in 1989. His coaching journey took him to various European clubs before he ventured to Africa, where he took charge of Tunisia's Etoile Sportive du Sahel in 2008. He later served as the Technical Director for national teams in Gabon, Niger, and Burkina Faso before assuming the role of Nigeria's head coach in 2016.

His tenure with the Super Eagles lasted an impressive five years, making him one of the longest-serving coaches in the team's history. Under Rohr's guidance, the Nigerian national team achieved significant milestones, such as early qualification for the 2018 World Cup and securing a bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations held in Egypt.

In a recent revelation, Rohr shared an intriguing incident that occurred during his time as the Super Eagles coach. He disclosed how the Nigerian Minister of Sports unexpectedly arrived at one of the team's training sessions accompanied by a swarm of journalists.

Faced with the possibility of being dismissed if he refused to accommodate the Minister's request, Rohr and his team swiftly organized a mini ball-playing session, known as a "rondo," to satisfy the Minister's desire to participate.

Recalling the incident in an interview with FC Bayern, Rohr expressed his surprise, stating, "Two years ago in Nigeria: suddenly, the Minister of Sports showed up at the training with 40 or 50 journalists and wanted to participate."

"I was taken aback. My assistant informed me that we had to let him participate; otherwise, we would all be dismissed the next day. Without hesitation, we arranged a rondo for him, and everything went smoothly."

Despite his notable achievements with the Super Eagles, Rohr's tenure came to an end in 2021, just on the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Undeterred, the coach has since taken charge of the Benin national team, embarking on a new chapter in his coaching career.