Gernot Rohr, former head coach of the Nigerian national team and now in charge of Benin Republic, Nigeria’s major rival in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier, is leaving no stone unturned as he looks for ways to outsmart the Super Eagles on Thursday. His latest inspiration comes from the pages of Nigerian literary giant Ola Rotimi’s play Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, where Rohr has taken a cue from the character Lejoka Brown—an old soldier whose “Surprise and Attack” strategy he now plans to apply in the upcoming match.
Rohr has identified what he describes as “small problems” in Nigeria’s defense that he hopes to exploit, aiming for an unexpected victory that could shock the African football community.
In June 2024, Rohr orchestrated a stunning 2-1 upset over Nigeria at the Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan during a World Cup qualifier. Nigeria had taken the lead with a Raphael goal in the 27th minute, but Benin responded with an equalizer from Jodel Dossou in the 37th minute, before Steve Mounle scored the winner. The win sent shockwaves through the football world, as the Cheetahs celebrated an historic victory over African giants Nigeria.
However, Benin’s Stade L’Amite in Cotonou, which seats 35,000, was not deemed suitable by CAF for international matches. As a result, the Cheetahs, ranked 95th in the world and 6th in Africa, are playing their qualifiers in Abidjan, where they hope to secure a fourth AFCON appearance. Their best performance came in 2019 when they reached the quarterfinals.
Despite Rohr’s experience, his tactical preparations have raised eyebrows. The German coach has called up several players with Nigerian heritage, including Remo Stars goalkeeper Serge Obassa, who coincidentally traveled to Abidjan with his coach Daniel Ogunmodede. Other players of Nigerian descent in camp include Junior Olaitan, Tosin Ayegun, Mohammed Tijani, Rahman Karim, and Dodo Dokou.
Rohr, who coached Nigeria from 2016 to 2021, leading them to a third-place finish at AFCON 2019 and qualifying them for the 2021 edition, knows Nigerian football inside and out. He’s familiar with the players and officials and has kept in touch, congratulating them on birthdays and appointments. But with the injury to Matteo Ahlinvi, the engine of Benin’s midfield, Rohr’s plan may face obstacles as Nigeria’s formidable attackers, including Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, and Gift Orban, are all in hot form, scoring goals at will.
Nigeria’s coach, Augustine Eguavoen, who has recovered from an illness that saw him travel to Belgium, is also focused on the upcoming match in Abidjan. After the match, Nigeria’s team is scheduled to fly back to Uyo on a private charter for their next qualifier.
As the group stages progress, Nigeria remains in a strong position, leading Group D with 10 points from 4 matches, having scored 7 goals and conceded none. Benin is second with 6 points, but their defense has been leaky, conceding 6 goals in the process. Rwanda, with 5 points, is closely pursuing Benin, while Libya, at the bottom of the table, is in dire need of a win to stay alive in the race.
For Benin, Thursday’s match is crucial. They need to beat Nigeria to stay in contention for a fourth AFCON appearance, but Nigeria only needs a draw to advance. The stakes are high for both teams, as a loss for Benin could set up a tense final matchday, with their fate depending on a must-win game against Libya.
Historically, Nigeria has dominated the fixture between the two teams. In 11 encounters, Nigeria has won 9 times, while Benin has only won twice. In AFCON competitions, Nigeria has won all 6 of their meetings, and in World Cup qualifiers, Benin’s lone victories came in 2008 and 2024.
As the two countries prepare to face off, Nigeria’s 18 AFCON appearances, 3 titles, and 7 bronze medals loom large. But Benin, under Rohr’s guidance, will be looking to defy the odds once again. The match kicks off at 8 p.m. Nigerian time on Thursday, with Rwanda playing Libya earlier in Kigali at 5 p.m.
Nigeria’s final group match will take place on Monday, November 18, when they host Rwanda in Uyo, while Libya will face Benin in the final game of the group.
