Gernot Rohr admitted it will be difficult for his Benin Republic side to beat the Super Eagles again.
The Cheetahs recorded a famous 2-1 victory over the three-time African champions in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier in June.
Benin Republic will need to repeat similar result to boost their chances of qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Rohr claimed his side must be well organised to achieve victory.
Read Also:‘We’II Fight For Every Ball’ — Eguavoen Declares Super Eagles Readiness To Beat Cheetahs
“In June, Nigeria was not at full strength. Now they are. The only player missing is Ajayi, who is injured. We know they are the favourites and it will take a feat to beat them again,” the Germany said during his interaction with the media.
“Despite the absences we have, we are confident that we can play a good game and get a good result.
“The key to this match will certainly be good organisation. Our newly composed defence will also have to perform well, because we have had to reshape our back line several times already.
” If we are in a good place, if we manage to develop our football as we have been doing for about a year and a half, I believe we can put them in danger. All the victories we have had here prove that we have no say in the matter, even against a big team.”
By Adeboye Amosu
11 Comments
One thing I couldn’t stand about Gernot Rohr was his habit of making his team feel like underdogs before every match. It’s almost like he was preparing them to lose even before stepping onto the field. This approach can absolutely kill a player’s confidence and mentality, especially when they’re up against tough opponents.
A coach’s role should be to inspire his team, to make them believe they can win against any opponent, no matter the odds. Sure, respecting your opponent is crucial, but there’s a difference between respect and flat-out positioning your team as the weaker side. Players should enter every game feeling pumped and ready to take on any challenge—not like they’re automatically playing second fiddle just because the other team’s ranked higher or has big names. Confidence, especially in football, is half the battle.
Its like never noticed Rohr and his team captains always talk in opposites. If what he says to the press is what he says to the players, I doubt that it would play out that way.
In any case, his approach has helped Benin hold the likes of Sengeal and CIV to draws and defeat Nigeria [3 teams to have played in the last 2 AFCON finals].
It may not work well with others, but his mind games seemingly works for him.
I think he was also self-deprecating before the WCQ against SE in June, and we may have bought the mind game (probably including Finidi); so much so I thought he wanted to hand us the game. But on game day, his wards were clearly playing to win, and they did!
It’s not likely to be any different today. They have so much at stake. If they lose today, they might miss next year’s Afcon, and he could lose his job. So, he’ll definitely be gunning for a win today.
kel
sharap dere! ewu mbiriri krayon! nonsense lmaaoo! pls were is yer triblastc friend dat mumu cal chinma h daniels?
Oh, you still don’t know it his strategy. What he tells the media is definitely not what he tells him team, but many fans fail to understand it. He talk seemingly weak before the media is all mind games and make the undiscerning to underrate him. And also to reduce the pressure on him. But he tells his team the exact opposite, that is why his result speak for himself. Under him we drew against Senegal, defeated Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon several times and even Argentina once. We also drew against full house brazil. These teams were all ahead of us in Fifa ranking as at then.
I know coach Eguavon understands him well and we never underrate him with his speech.
Rohr’s utterances to the media are mind games. You can be sure that he’s firing up his players in the dressing room.
By acknowledging that his team is the under dog, he is taking pressure of them.
It’s up to us to disregard his games and take care of business on the pitch.
Available link for the match pls
They have started again. Backing Oga Rohr here and there with his no words of confidence.
Oga Rohr has been like this, and I believe he won’t change, but if his followers want to say, they call it a mind game.
How would a coach sound like this ba?
Bia, no hiding place for Oga Rohr and his fans today.
The disrespect is way too much from Oga Rohr fans. Thank God that we are still alive to witness this match.
I want Eguavoen to show Nigerians that doesn’t believe in anything Africans or blacks do. Eguavoen have to change their mentality in today’s match.
I want Eguavoen to teach those people a bitter lesson today. As usual, many of these people would run away after the match today lol.
You don’t disrespect your people simply because you want a foreign coach. Not every Nigerian is corrupt kę.
On the other hand, as a human, I pity Oga Rohr; he may lose his job if he does not qualify for the Afcon.
I am coming for you people because you people disrespected us too much because of Oga Rohr. We, the patriotic Nigerians, are solidly behind our darling Super Eagles. Good luck to the Super Eagles. No shaking, God is in control. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Defeating Benin republic makes local coaches better….LMAOoo
Someone should please collect the bottle of whatever omo9ja is drinking from him.
He has had enough.
Omo9ja, but you said you have washed your hands from Eguavoen, because he’s not sincere. Now you have changed mouth again, and you’re saying you want Eguavoen to show how valuable black people are?
Nobody is arguing that black people are not useful. What we are insisting on is that the appointment of SE coach must have nothing to do with skin color. If black man is the best, hire him. If na white man, hire him. Shikena.
Omo9ja, you need to stop this your Olusegun West behaviour. Ko da rara.
You refused to give Rohr his due respect, a coach who led us to defeat current world champions Argentina by a nice 4-2 scoreline. Anytime you are reminded of that and other good results by Rohr, your head goes straight into the ground, like a confused ostrich that refuses to accept reality. Sticking your head in the sand will not make the reality go away!
Today, we support the Super Eagles of Nigeria against Rohr and Benin. That does not mean we don’t love and respect Gernot Rohr. What that man did for Nigerian football, true fans will never forget!
@Pompei, you are missing the key points here, gentleman.
1. I love Eguavon, just like Oga Rohr during his time with the Eagles.
2. I backed out when I discovered that Eguavoen was not trustworthy with
the selections of the players.
3. He only has plan A just like Oga Rohr.
4. I’m in support of our own to take over the Super Eagles but Eguavoen is not the right coach for the job. Any day, any time, I will choose Siasia over Eguavoen.
However, You can’t tell me that I don’t value Oga Rohr, but this is Nigeria, where all you have to do is set up your team because we have fantastic players around the world kę.
So beating Argentina 4-2 and at the World Cup that matters, he lost woefully kę.
He looks lost against Croatia and Argentina. No confidence in his approach and you wanted me to give him an accolade that he doesn’t deserve?
What is the essence of hiring a foreign coach gentleman?
If the late Keshi of blessed memory could manage to get out of the group stage at the World Cup as a local coach, how much more is the so-called foreign coach?
Think about it, my man. Sentiment apart, let the NFF give Siasia the Super Eagles job.
If you look deeper, you can see the direction the Super Eagles are heading in.
Same spirit, same direction. If NFF keeps their house in order, by hiring a sound
Nigerian coach to manage Super Eagles, Nigeria can win anything.
Please let’s call a spade a spade. Hiring
a foreign coach is not the solution but have to know what they are doing first then the new coach can come in. I’m only
concerned about two things which are good results and unity of the team and being a foreign coach or local coach is not that important but as long as the coach is sound, that is what matters. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!