2026 World Cup (Q): Gernot Rohr is finding it hard to stomach the Cheetahs’ heavy defeat in Nigeria
Speaking to CAFonline, Gernot Rohr reflected on the crushing defeat suffered by the Cheetahs against Nigeria in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. And the Benin coach believes that the refereeing played a part in this heavy loss for his side.
Gernot Rohr, sélectionneur national du Bénin
Benin’s coach, Gernot Rohr, is struggling to come to terms with the heavy 4-0 defeat conceded to Nigeria in the final qualifying match for the 2026 World Cup, played this month. The Franco-German coach specifically protested certain refereeing decisions that he considers questionable.
The Cheetahs’ coach particularly singled out the first two goals scored by Victor Osimhen in the first half, arguing that they should have been disallowed due to irregularities in their build-up.
« Our only regrets concern the first two goals conceded against Nigeria in this decisive match. These situations deserved, in my view, a different refereeing interpretation, which would have allowed us to obtain more justice », he said in an interview granted to CAFonline.
Despite this disappointment, Gernot Rohr was keen to highlight his national team’s solid campaign in this very competitive Group C. « We finished the qualifiers with 17 points, level with Nigeria. That’s a very encouraging sign for what’s next. We are, moreover, the only team to have beaten the Super Eagles in Abidjan, while they remained unbeaten in all their other matches. »
With the campaign for the American World Cup over, attention now turns to AFCON 2025 in Morocco, which will take place from December 21 to January 18, 2026. In search of their first title in this African tournament, the Beninese will have the opportunity to prove that this disappointment was only a step back before a fresh start.