Benin Republic head coach, Gernot Rohr, has identified Nigeria’s defence as a potential weakness ahead of their crucial 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Cheetahs are set to face their neighbors, the Super Eagles, at Abidjan’s Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium on Thursday, with both teams vying for qualification to the tournament finals.
Currently, Benin sit second in Group D with six points from four matches, narrowly ahead of Rwanda, who trail with five points and will face Libya on the same day.
To strengthen their chances of qualification, Benin will need a decisive result against Nigeria, who need just one point from their last two games to confirm their place in the AFCON finals.
Rohr, a former Super Eagles coach, expressed confidence in his team’s prospects, especially given Nigeria’s defensive vulnerabilities.
“We have the return of Lenny Piringuel, who, with his new club Rouen, is starting to find his mark,” said Rohr.
“His liveliness interests us a lot, especially against a Nigerian team that could have small problems in defence, we hope.”
Nigeria will miss the services of West Brom defender Semi Ajayi who is currently injured.
However, caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen has invited newbies Auxerre’s Gabriel Osho and Nasarawa United’s Victor Collins to complete the established duo of William Troost-Ekong and Fulham’s Calvin Bassey.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are building their squad in Abidjan, with eleven players now in camp following recent arrivals.
Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi, Sevilla’s Kelechi Iheanacho, and Udinese’s Maduka Okoye joined the team on Tuesday, poised to take part in their first training session under Eguavoen.
Also in camp are Gabriel Osho, Frank Onyeka, Raphael Onyedika, and others who arrived on Monday.
Eguavoen and his staff await the arrival of additional players, including stars like Troost-Ekong, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi, as they prepare for Thursday’s showdown.
With just a single point required from their remaining two matches, Nigeria’s path to AFCON 2025 remains favourable, yet Rohr’s Cheetahs are determined to make this qualification journey challenging.