German coach Gernot Rohr is brimming with confidence that his Benin side, known as the Cheetahs, will once again be well-prepared to face Nigeria in their first match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers this September.
This follows their surprising 2-1 victory over Nigeria during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in Abidjan last June.
Nigeria and Benin have been drawn into Group D alongside Libya and Rwanda. While Benin will host Libya for Match Day 2, Nigeria will travel to Kigali to take on the Rwandan team, nicknamed the Amavubi (The Wasps).
With the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) yet to appoint a permanent coach following Finidi George’s departure after a lackluster performance in June, Rohr is looking forward to facing his former team at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on September 7.
Rohr, who coached the Super Eagles to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, is excited to return to Uyo.
He praised the stadium as one of Africa’s finest and expressed optimism about the upcoming match, despite challenges within his squad, including several players currently out of contract.
Nonetheless, Rohr is determined to field a competitive team capable of making the game in Uyo a memorable one.