Wednesday 18 October 2017

NFF, Rohr Set to Clash over Tammy Abraham


Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr is reportedly set to battle it with the Nigeria Football Federation over teenage forward Tammy Abraham.

England Under-21 striker Abraham has emerged as one of the hottest young properties in English football after  scoring five Premier League goals for Swansea City on his season-long loan from Chelsea this season.


The 20-year-old, whose father comes from Nigeria, has not been capped by England at senior level, meaning he is still eligible to play for the Super Eagles.

NFF president Amaju Pinnick  claimed last month that Abraham had agreed to play for Nigeria, but the player  denied that  the NFF had yet  to  contact   him with regard to playing for Nigeria and pledged his international allegiance to England.

A Punch correspondent learnt that the NFF decided to  go after Abraham after  Rohr, who is a fan of the pacey and energetic  London-born striker,  told them  that he wanted him  for the Russia 2018 World Cup.

A correspondent learnt that  the NFF was rocked by Abraham’s  statement, with some of the top officials of the federation allegedly vowing  to ensure that the player  is never  allowed to don  the national  colours  even when he  makes a u-turn  on England.

Rohr is  said  to be insistent on having Abraham  as he believes  involving the young striker would boost his striking options in Russia as Nigeria seek to  make a bold statement  in  their  sixth   World  Cup appearance.

 German manager  Rohr is said to have been encouraged  to  have  Abraham in his World Cup plans after the player, whose father comes from Delta State,  opened his door to Nigeria switch after the Eagles qualified for the World Cup following their 1-0 victory over Zambia in Uyo on October 7.

“There are a lot of things going on. For me that is a sign you are doing something right if Nigeria are fighting for you and England want you as well,” Abraham was quoted by The Mirror as  saying last week.

“I’m happy right now and just want to keep playing my football. Nothing has happened. I’m not too sure what is going on.”

But Rohr’s employers are said to be opposed to the player representing Nigeria at the World Cup and have reportedly told him that they don’t want Abraham on his list.

Spokesman for the NFF Ademola Olajire, who refused to confirm  or deny whether Abraham would be invited by Rohr for the World Cup,  however insisted the player agreed to switch his international allegiance from England to Nigeria.

Olajire said the federation would not force any player on  Rohr, saying  the former Burkina Faso coach would be allowed to select his squad for the World Cup.

“The NFF does not have any player in mind for the World Cup, it’s not our job  to invite any player,” the federation chief told a correspondent on the telephone on Monday.

“Rohr is in charge  of the  team and he is the  only person who can invite any player.”

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