Sports

Don’t Sack Rohr Now – Ikpeba

Published

4 years ago

November 24, 2021

Member of Nigerian Football Federation Technical Committee, Victor Ikpeba, has kicked against the sacking of Gernot Rohr with less than 48 days to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, insisting that the move will be a disaster.
Ikpeba made this known in an interview with newsmen on Monday
Rohr came under heavy criticism again following the Super Eagles’ underwhelming performance in their 1-1 draw with Cape Verde at the Teslim Balogun stadium last Tuesday.
Ikpeba, however, advised that the NFF be patient with the 68-year-old till the end of the AFCON before taking a decision on his future.
“It is less than 48 days before our first game against Egypt at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations,” Ikpeba said.
“The speculation about his sack has been intense and I’m really surprised. I know what happened in 2002 and in 2010.
“Rumour of people going to the sports ministry and the presidency calling for Rohr to be sacked.
“Rohr has done the needful, qualifying the Eagles for the World Cup playoffs.
“Yes, we were not brilliant against Cape Verde but he has done the needful.
“Why not wait till after the AFCON and take a decision on his future. It will be a disaster if that happens now.
“If you sack Rohr and employ another coach, if the team fails at the AFCON, who takes the blame?
“What will the new manager change. What changed in 2002 and in 2010. It was a disaster.
“This will happen again if Rohr is sacked now.
“My worry is that we forget history and we should not. Those who sacked the late AmoduShuaibu twice said he was not good enough.”
“Gernot Rohr has been too soft with the players, the NFF can help him.”
Meanwhile, Tidesports source gathered that Salisu Yusuf maybe asked to take charge of the team in a temporary capacity should Rohr be sacked.
Yusuf, 59, was also a caretaker coach before Rohr was appointed in August 2016.
He has been involved with the national team setup since 2008, first with the Flying Eagles and holds a CAF A licence.
The former Kano Pillars and Enyimba coach, who has served out a year’s ban for receiving cash from undercover journalists, has always backed himself to lead the Super Eagles.

Sports

Iwobi Optimistic On S’Eagles Qualification

Published

4 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring that Nigeria have the players and abilities to compete against any country in the world.

Iwobi spoke to Tidesports source ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.

The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told Tidesports source.

We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”

The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.

“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.

“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”

Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.

Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.

It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.

Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.

Sports

ATLANTICBELL CEO ADVICE SPORTS WRITERS ON SPECIALIZATION

Published

4 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

The Chief Executive Officer(CEO) and Publisher of the Atlantic Bell Online medium, Mr. Celestine Ogolo has advised sports writers in Nigeria to diversify in sports writing and not to concentrate on football reporting alone.

He stated that in spite the fact that sports journalists are doing greatly in the country but hardly find any sports journalist that specializes on a particular sport reporting and become an authority, as it obtainable in advance countries.

Mr. Ogolo , who was the former Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State Chapter, said this after he received the Veteran Sports Journalist Award, during the SWAN @60 Diamond jubilee award night, in Abuja on Friday.

According to him, sports journalists have done tremendously well in sports development through effective and efficient reportage.

“SWAN has done greatly to develop sports in Nigeria, so they should be given its rightful place.

“Members should continue to do what they are doing, Nigerians are sports loving people when you give them facts and accurate reporting they will be happy, besides, sports writers have a big role to play in advancement of sports in Nigeria”, Mr. Ogolo said.

The former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of The TIDE Newspapers, used the opportunity to express his profound gratitude to the National Executive Council (NEC) of SWAN for the award.

He explained that the award is one of the most important and special awards he has received, hence it came from his primary constituency as a journalist.

” I am not just happy but overwhelmed. This award will spur me to contribute more in development of sports and I we equally support SWAN Rivers State Chapter in my little way” he stated.

By: Tonye Orabere

Sports

DEPUTY PRESIDENT EXPRESSES COMMITMENT TO SUPPORT SPORTS DEV, SWAN

Published

4 days ago

November 3, 2025

The Tide

The Deputy National President of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Mr. Bonny Nyong has expressed commitment to support sports development and move SWAN forward.

He stated that the sports writing fraternity is where he cannot forget as a sports journalist that starts from the grassroots.

Mr. Nyong said this while presiding over South South SWAN zonal meeting of Chairmen and Secretaries, including some elders in the zone, on Friday, in Abuja.

He explained what led to his suspension and sue unity and peace amongst members, saying that what happened should be a thing of the past, as he was actually misled and deceived.

The Deputy National President reiterated his commitment to work with Cyril Dum Wite led administration in Rivers State Chapter of SWAN, saying that SWAN is one and there should be no division of any such.

He reels out ideas that can make SWAN viable and enviable in the zone.

“I want peace and unity amongst members of the association in the zone, we are one family, let us work as family. Thank God I am back fully, members of the zone will enjoy the association”, Mr. Nyong said.

Also speaking the Vice President of SWAN south south zone, Azuka Chiemeka, thanked members that attended the meeting and also advised members to work in peace, unity and love with others members to achieve positive result.

It will be recalled Bonny Nyong was suspended in Full council meeting held in Kano following what can be described as misconduct, but was forgiven and his suspension was lifted after he apologised to Full council members in a meeting, held in Abuja, during SWAN@60 celebrations.

By: Tonye Orabere