Benin Republic head coach, Gernot Rohr, is anticipating a fierce backlash from the Super Eagles when the two teams clash in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Saturday. The Cheetahs had pulled off a remarkable 2-1 victory over their Nigerian counterparts in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying tie in June.Rohr acknowledges that the Super Eagles will be seeking revenge for that defeat when they host the Cheetahs at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. He believes the Nigerian team has strengthened significantly since their last encounter, with key players like William Ekong, Victor Osimhen, and Ola Aina now available for selection.”Nigeria is not a pushover, far from it,” Rohr cautioned in an interview with Benin Football. “We beat them three months ago, and they’ll certainly have a strong desire for revenge, which is normal. They didn’t have certain players in their lineup last time, like Ekong, their captain, and Osimhen, who will be available this time around.
They also have other contributors like Ola Aina, making them a stronger team than the one we defeated in Abidjan.
“Rohr emphasized that playing at home adds to the pressure on the Super Eagles to deliver a result, especially after a string of draws and defeats.
We’re wary of their strengths and the fact that they’ll be playing in front of their home crowd, which will only add to their motivation,” he concluded.
