Benin Republic’s head coach, Gernot Rohr, has expressed confidence that his team is prepared to face a heightened level of competition as they take on Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Uyo next week, according to Soccernet.ng.
Rohr’s squad, the Cheetahs, secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, courtesy of a late goal from Tosin Aiyegun, keeping their hopes alive for a spot at the global event.
This outcome has left Group C wide open, with Benin, South Africa, and Nigeria all still in contention to qualify for the World Cup finals in North America.
“The match was highly strategic and challenging, with limited open play. But given the stakes, it wasn’t about entertaining the crowd. Our priority was securing the win,” Rohr commented following the intense battle in Kigali.
Next on the agenda for Rohr’s Benin team is a showdown against the Super Eagles, a squad he previously led to the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The two sides will clash at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Tuesday, with a coveted World Cup berth hanging in the balance.
The 70-year-old German, who was at the helm of Nigeria’s national team from 2016 to 2021, is well-acquainted with the caliber of the opposition and has identified four key Super Eagles players that his team must be vigilant against.
“Facing players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Moses Simon, and Alex Iwobi presents a unique challenge. This victory boosts our confidence,” Rohr stated.
A victory for Benin would guarantee their passage to the World Cup regardless of other results, while any other outcome could allow South Africa or Nigeria to leapfrog them in the standings.
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Nigeria: Super Eagles to Miss Lookman in Crucial Benin Encounter
Nigeria’s build-up to this pivotal fixture has been dealt a blow as Ademola Lookman faces suspension and will be unavailable for the match.
The Atalanta winger, a vital creative force for Nigeria throughout the qualifiers, received his second yellow card in the 70th minute of their 2-1 win over Lesotho in Polokwane. His reaction to a tough challenge-grabbing the opponent’s shirt-resulted in the booking that rules him out of Tuesday’s showdown.
Lookman’s caution was a significant setback for Nigeria, as his dynamism and incisive play have been central to their offensive flow. He was substituted by Samuel Chukwueze shortly after the incident, having otherwise delivered a strong performance.
Despite the absence of Lookman, the Super Eagles managed to clinch the victory, thanks to a penalty converted by William Troost-Ekong and a late goal from Akor Adams.
With this result, Nigeria sits on 14 points, trailing Benin (17) and South Africa (15) as the group heads into the final round of matches.
For Nigeria to secure a World Cup spot, they must defeat Benin by a margin of at least two goals and hope South Africa fails to overcome Rwanda. Falling short of this would mean the Super Eagles miss out on the tournament for the second consecutive time, following their absence from Qatar 2022.
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