Sports

Odegbami Apologises To Pinnick, Rohr Over Controversial Interview

Published

3 years ago

November 22, 2022

Segun Odegbami and Amaju Pinnick

Nigerian football legend, Segun Odegbami, on Tuesday apologised to former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, over a recent interview conducted on his radio station with ex-Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr.

Newsbreak.ng reports that the interview anchored by Osasu Obayiuwana has steered controversy following the leak of private exchanges.

In the interview on Odegbami’s Eagle7FM Sports Radio, Rohr criticised Pinnick for the Super Eagles’ failure to pick a ticket to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

“Pinnick said my dismissal will avert a disaster, but in the end he created the disaster that cost Nigeria the ticket to the World Cup.

“I regret that I did not take my team to win the World Cup,” Rohr had said.

Following the interview, Odegbami said Pinnick reached out to him to express serious displeasure. The football adminstrator accused Obayiuwana of disparagement.

But “a totally private message” between Pinnick and Odegbami concerning the issue found its way to the public — a development Odegbami is not happy with.

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Read Odegbami’s full post below:

Last week, ‘The Big Interview’ debuted on Eagle7 Sports Radio.

It is a program produced and presented by my friend and super journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana.

He is fully responsible for the sports personalities he interviews on the show and the questions he asks them.

It is in that spirit that he interviewed Mr. Gernot Rohr, a former coach who is inconsequential in Nigerian football today, after 5 barren years without a Silverware to show, and most irrelevant now that he has been fired and is earning ‘free’ money for work not done.

After the Interview, last week, Pinnick Amaju reached out to me and expressed disapproval at the conduct of the interview a large part of which, he said, was skewed to disparage his person.

I assured him that was not the case even though I had no hand in the questions Osasu asked him. Osasu was the producer and presenter of the program.

I told him, of course, that Osasu is responsible for content of the interview and not me.

In a fit of anger he sent me a mail that was not flattering, to say the least. I understood his pain and forwarded the message to Osasu to let him know just how Amaju felt. How he was not happy.

It was a totally private message between Amaju and I, and I would never in a million years have taken that as his public reaction to the Interview. If I ever thought so, I would have published it myself and made a cheap point of it.

I discussed it with Osasu and I assumed the matter would die a natural death, only for me to see a publication today on social media quoting from the private and confidential message exchange between Amaju and I, that I forwarded to Osasu.

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Amaju is my friend despite our disagreements over Gernot Rohr and the man’s place in the story of Nigerian football. But I would never have used my own opinion to denigrate him in any way.

This publication on social media disclosing my private exchange with Amaju and accusing Gernot Rohr of some misconduct during his stay in Nigeria is totally uncalled for, and a betrayal of Amaju’s trust in my person. It is totally out of my character and I take full responsibility for abusing his confidence.

I use this opportunity to unreservedly publicly apologise to Amaju Pinnick for whatever ‘harm’ this must have done and may do to him. He does not deserve this treatment at all.

Eagle7 Sports Radio is not meant to fight vendettas, and this is smelling very much like one. I don’t use my position to take cheap shots at anyone.

I am truly sorry for betraying Amaju’s trust and hereby apologise for how our private exchange has now turned ‘lethal’.

Meanwhile, the content of that story is not a news item, and I fully understand, as a Nigerian, the context in which some words were expressed.

I also publicly apologise to Mr. Gernot Rohr for the embarrassing report.

Sports

AFCON 2025: Oliseh Praises Osimhen’s Captaincy as Super Eagles Beat Uganda

Published

4 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Trends Admin

AFCON 2025: Oliseh Praises Osimhen’s Captaincy as Super Eagles Beat Uganda

Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has praised Victor Osimhen for his outstanding leadership and all-round performance as Nigeria’s Super Eagles defeated Uganda’s Cranes 3–1 in their final Group C match at the ongoing AFCON 2025 in Morocco.

Osimhen, who was named vice-captain of the Super Eagles to Wilfred Ndidi ahead of the tournament, captained the side on Tuesday in Fes, a day after celebrating his 27th birthday. Although the Galatasaray striker did not score in the encounter, he played a decisive role in Nigeria’s emphatic victory.

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Speaking as a colour commentator during the live broadcast, Oliseh—who captained Nigeria at the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations—said he was impressed by Osimhen’s rare leadership qualities and selfless approach to the game.

“I’m really impressed with Osimhen; he’s really playing as a captain and I’m really loving it,” Oliseh said, while offering tactical insights and expert analysis during the match.

The former midfielder further commended the striker’s attitude on the pitch, noting: “Despite being the top striker and captain, he has been so unselfish in this match.”

Osimhen, who previously featured for Nigeria at the 2019 and 2023 AFCON tournaments, opened his goal account at the 2025 AFCON in Saturday’s thrilling 3–2 victory over Tunisia’s Eagles of Carthage, further underlining his importance to the Super Eagles’ campaign.

AFCON 2025: Oliseh Praises Osimhen’s Captaincy as Super Eagles Beat Uganda

Sports

Anthony Joshua’s Family Speak on Fatal Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Crash

Published

5 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Trends Admin

Anthony Joshua accident scene

Anthony Joshua’s Family Speak on Fatal Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Crash

The Sagamu community in Ogun State and the family of former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua, have been thrown into deep shock following a fatal road accident involving the boxing star on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The incident, which occurred on Monday, reportedly claimed two lives, while Anthony Joshua escaped with minor injuries. The accident involved a Lexus SUV conveying the boxer, with registration number KRD 850 HN, which collided with a stationary truck along the busy highway.

According to findings, Joshua, who was seated at the rear of the vehicle, sustained minor injuries and was subsequently taken to a specialised medical facility in Lagos, where he is currently receiving treatment.

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Joshua, an indigene of Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, hails from the Ijokun area of Sagamu. Speaking with journalists on Tuesday at the family residence, his uncle, Adedamola Joshua, described the incident as a “rude shock” that has left both the family and the wider Sagamu community devastated.

“The whole community is still in shock. Nobody ever imagined that something this terrible could happen to our son, especially during this festive period when families are meant to come together and rejoice,” he said.

While expressing gratitude to God for sparing the life of Anthony Joshua and the driver, the family mourned the tragic death of two close friends and trainers of the boxer who lost their lives in the crash.

Anthony Joshua’s Family Speak on Fatal Lagos-Ibadan Expressway Crash

Sports

[BREAKING] AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Finish Group Stage Perfect After 3–1 Victory Over Uganda

Published

18 hours ago

December 30, 2025

Trends Admin

Super Eagles End Group Stage Unbeaten with Convincing Uganda Win

[BREAKING] AFCON 2025: Super Eagles Finish Group Stage Perfect After 3–1 Victory Over Uganda

Nigeria completed a flawless 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) group-stage campaign with a commanding 3–1 win over Uganda on Monday at the Stade de Fes, extending the Super Eagles’ unbeaten run and sealing top spot in Group B.

The Super Eagles took the lead in the 28th minute when Paul Onuachu capitalised on a rebound, calmly slotting home after Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s precise delivery had forced a save from Uganda goalkeeper Ismail Onyango.

Uganda started brightly but their resistance weakened after the interval. In the 56th minute, substitute goalkeeper Salim Magoola was shown a red card for handling the ball outside the penalty area to stop a clear goal-scoring opportunity, leaving the Cranes with 10 men.

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Nigeria wasted no time in asserting control, as Raphael Onyedika struck twice in five minutes. The midfielder found the net in the 62nd and 67th minutes, both goals created by Samuel Chukwueze, effectively putting the match beyond Uganda’s reach.

The Cranes of Uganda managed a late consolation in the 75th minute through Rogers Mato, who finished confidently over goalkeeper Francis Uzoho, but Nigeria remained dominant until the final whistle.

Coach Eric Chelle rotated his squad late in the game, introducing Zaidu Sanusi, Tochukwu Nnadi, and Akor Adams, as Nigeria closed out the match with authority.

Elsewhere in Group B, Tunisia and Tanzania shared a 1–1 draw, a result that leaves the two sides battling for qualification, while Nigeria advance to the AFCON knockout stage with a perfect nine points from three matches.