Ghana set to pull Liberia 2002 move on Nigeria with Gernot Rohr’s appointment?

Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr is reportedly close to becoming the new Black Stars coach in a move similar to what almost happened in 2002.

In 2002 Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Sudan were in the same world cup qualifying group. Dutch manager Jo Bonfrere was Nigeria’s manager at the time.

After Nigeria’s 1-0 loss to Sierra Leone in Free Town with three games to the end of the campaign and Super Eagles qualification hanging in balance and with George Upong Weah desperate to go to the world cup.

There were rumours making round back then that George Weah and Liberia had an agreement with Bonfrere Jo to sell out the Super Eagles.

Coach Amodu Shaibu took over the must win games; the first a clash against rivals Liberia, Nigeria won 2-0, the second a trip to Sudan where Yakubu Aiyegbeni scored a brace, Okocha and Aghahowa completed the 4-0 rout.

And the last game in Nigeria against Ghana, Eagles trashed the Black Stars 3-0 to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

Fast-forward to 2022, Gernot Rohr had been sacked sacked and an interim appointed and a new coach appointed to replace the sacked German coach who now has been linked to a move to Nigeria’s world cup rivals.

Just as it happened in 2002, history could be set to repeat itself where in the end the coaching appointment were all rumours and Nigeria booked a place at the world cup finals.

Nigeria and Ghana will fight it out for a place at the 2022 World Cup over two-leg clashes, with the first leg to be played in Ghana and the second leg in Nigeria.