Benin Coach Gernot Rohr Reacts After Draw Against Nigeria, Focuses on Libya Clash

Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr has reflected on his team’s performance after a hard-fought draw against Nigeria in their penultimate Group D fixture. The result leaves Benin needing a strong showing in their final group match against Libya to secure qualification for the next stage.  

Rohr, addressing the surprising results in the group, highlighted Libya’s unexpected victory in Rwanda as a reminder of how challenging qualification can be. "Even Nigeria did win in Rwanda, but we were still surprised by Libya's victory there. It's not easy to win from there," Rohr noted.  

Looking ahead to their decisive encounter with Libya, Rohr acknowledged the high stakes. "Our next match against Libya is going to be very hot, obviously. The message is clear: if we win or draw, we will qualify. Now, we are going to turn to accountants with calculators," he said.  

The draw against Nigeria dashed Benin’s hopes of sealing qualification early, which could have been achieved with a win. Instead, the Squirrels must now prepare for a tough test in their final Group D match, where everything will be on the line.  

As the group stage nears its conclusion, Rohr’s experience and tactical acumen will be crucial for Benin. The team will need to dig deep to overcome Libya and secure their place in the next round of the qualifiers.