2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Rohr says Benin Republic keen to go toe to toe with Nigeria

Former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr says his Benin Republic side will give the Nigeria a good fight when both sides meet in the qualifiers for the 2026
FIFA World Cup which start in November 2023.

Rohr and his Squirrels of Benin are in group C with Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Rwanda and the 70 year old who says the games against the
Super Eagles will give him the opportunity of reuniting with some of his players.

‘Personally, I will have reunions with players in the Super Eagles squad. We will be keen to give the maximum against this great footballing country,’ Rohr
told www.24haubenin.info.

Rohr was with Nigeria between August 2016 and December 2021 is however not deceived that he and his team have been drawn into a very tough group.

‘Benin has been drawn into an extremely tough group, with obviously Nigeria as the favourite. A team we know quite well but also the others, that is to say
South Africa who have already qualifyfor the next Africa Cup of Nations very early.

‘Of course Zimbabwe has a very strong, physical team as well. We know Rwanda know quite well. We are in the same qualifying group for the African Nations Cup
in Ivory Coast.

‘It is a group where teams have played against each other and some are neighbours. It is an extremely technical and physical group at the same time,’ said
Rohr who believes a good start will give them the boost to negotiate the group.

‘It is up to us given the litte confidnce that we have accumulated during our match against Senegal to continue on this path of going to win in Mozambique in
their final game of the 2024 AFCON to have even more confidence and certainty.’

Benin drew 1-1 with Senegal in their clash last month at the Stade de l’Amitié in Cotonou in an AFCOn qualifier.

Rohr hopes for his team to qualify despite the presence of Nigeria in the group.

‘We hope that Benin is able to play a good role in group C which is a very difficult group, very challenging but also very intersting.’