Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr has struck a defiant tone ahead of tonight’s blockbuster World Cup qualifier against Nigeria in Uyo.
With his side leading Group C, Rohr insisted that his team still believe a result in Nigeria is possible; and crucial for their history-making ambitions.
“We are happy to be in Nigeria and to be leading the group. Nobody believed we would be in this position at the start of the qualifiers,” Rohr told reporters.
“We can do it, we can beat Nigeria. We’re the only team among the top three whose destiny is in our own hands. It will be a surprise to win in Nigeria, but we’ve done it before when we won in Abidjan, and we’ll try to do it again.”
Benin’s confidence is built on adversity overcome. With South Africa penalized three points for fielding an ineligible player, the door swung open for Benin to take control at the top.
The Franco-German gaffer also revealed his game plan against the Super Eagles, describing a pragmatic approach designed to exploit weaknesses.
“We want to control the game if possible and play on the counter because we have quick players and good headers of the ball,” he explained.
“We’ll use diagonal passes, long balls, and exploit our speed in attack. But to win, we must defend well — Nigeria have strong strikers, especially Victor Osimhen, and we have to stay compact.”
If Benin can defeat the Super Eagles tonight, they will clinch their first-ever direct qualification to the World Cup. But the permutations remain tight.
The Cheetahs can also qualify with a draw, provided South Africa fail to win. Eric Chelle’s side, meanwhile, must win by at least two goals and hope South Africa loses or drops points.
With everything on the line, Rohr’s belief is clear: his team has a chance, and they intend to seize it. The stage is set for a night that may define Benin’s place in footballing history.
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