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Coach Gernot Rohr of the Benin Republic has offered his thoughts on what went wrong and how it affected his team's crushing loss to Nigeria.
The Super Eagles began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with a thumping 3-0 defeat against Benin Republic.
The Super Eagles won handily at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium thanks to two goals from Ademola Lookman and one from Victor Osimhen.
The victory marks the Super Eagles' first four-game winning streak since the appointment of an interim coach.
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Rohr speaks on defeat
Rohr shared his thoughts on the situation of the match, and the turning point that gave the Nigerian team the upper hand.
According to BeninWebTV, the 71-year-old said, “When we were almost at half-time, that is, in added time, we conceded the first goal. It was something that boosted them and something that hurt us.
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“In the second half, we were forced to open up a little more. With the speed of their attackers—Lookman, Chukwueze, and also Boniface—there were spaces, so they took advantage of it.”
In addition, Rohr acknowledged that Benin's team was not as good as that of their Nigerian counterparts, many of whom are elite players in Europe.
Rohr continued, “What did not work is that we do not have the same means as this Nigerian team…
“When you see the Nigerian squad, they are all very high-level players who play in their clubs. And unfortunately, we have players who do not play much in their clubs.”
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Right before halftime, Lookman took matters into his own hands and scored the first goal of the match by dancing past the Benin defence.
The first goal by Nigeria came right at the end of the first half, and the German coach showed his displeasure with that decision.
However, despite the loss to Nigeria, Rohr is optimistic about Benin's chances in the qualification campaign.
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