By Amaechi Agbo

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare on Wednesday thanked Super Eagles’ Coach, Gernot Rohr for his work and contribution to football in Nigeria while receiving the coach during a courtesy visit at the MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja.

Mr Dare promised to support the coach and the team to succeed even as expressed concerns at the current state of football in Nigeria with an optimistic assertion that things would get better.

He said “Are we happy about where our football is at the moment? Not exactly but we know there’s an ongoing process that will make this country a better football nation. That process is on and you are part of the process,” Mr. Dare told Rohr.

He further expressed hope that Nigeria would maintain the recent victory against Lesotho, “Nigeria is a football loving nation. We love our football and we also love our victories,” the minister said.

He urged the coach to share experiences with the domestic league coaches.

Coach Gernot Rohr, who asserted that the Minister is going in the right direction said, “I wish you good luck and I hope we can work together.”

Meanwhile, Super Eagles coach, Rohr has stated that the cloud surrounding the issue of his contract renewal is the hand of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF to clear.

Speaking after a meeting with the minister in Abuja on Wednesday morning, Rohr said he is not bothered over the non-renewal of his contract by the country’s football officials.

Rohr’s contract with the three-time African champions will expire in June 2021 with the team winning their first two games in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations race.

Nigeria will resume their 2021 AFCON qualifiers next year August in Group L with Rohr’s situation unclear.

Rohr, is, however, not bothered about the situation, saying everything is in the hands of the NFF.

“Again I’m confused because I am not here to speak about my contract,” Rohr said.

“We have a good team and I enjoy to coach this team of course, and we have project also, we have young players, we are progressing and we started very well in this competition and competition will continue after the end of my contract, so the ball is in the camp of the officials now.”

Nigeria are top of the Group L standing for the race to Cameroon after garnering six points from their first two games.