German coach, Gernot Rohr believes The Cheetahs of Benin deserve to pick the second ticket from Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification after the Super Eagles claimed group’s the first ticket last Thursday.
Hostilities towards qualification for Morocco 2025 will come to an end today as The Cheetahs are away to Libya in Tripoli while the Super Eagles host the Wasps of Rwanda in Uyo.
Rohr, who incidentally guided Nigeria to the 2019 AFCON after the Super Eagles missed the continental party in Equatorial Guinea 2015 and Gabon 2017, remains confident of helping Benin break their own duck since their last appearance at Egypt 2019 by securing a positive result against the Mediterranean Knights in Tripoli today.
“Today is a big game for us and decisive one because we conceded an equaliser in the last minute few minutes of the match against Nigeria in Abidjan,” Rohr told NationSports from Tripoli yesterday. “We could have mathematically qualified last time (Thursday) if we’d won (against Nigeria ).”
Going into the last round of matches today, Rohr admitted that Benin must do everything to avoid defeat in Tripoli since The Cheetahs are on seven points while Rwanda are on five points, adding a shock win for the Wasps in Uyo could upset
“ Two of the three possible results in a football match will be good for us (to qualify for AFCON 2025) as such, we must avoid defeat in the match against Libya,” the vastly experienced former Bayern Munich and Bordeaux defender further said.
He added: “At least if we can get a draw, we would qualify even if Rwanda is winning in Uyo against Nigeria which I don’t believe it is possible and even If we draw against Libya and Rwanda win Uyo, we would still qualify because we have a general better goal difference.
“That’s the situation but we have to keep eyes only on our own game because I’m confident the Super Eagles playing at home, cannot allow defeat by Rwanda.”
Away from mathematical permutations, Rohr said his optimism going into today’s round of matches was borne out of the fact that The Cheetahs are the most improved team in the group besides the ‘illustrious’ Super Eagles who are through already to Morocco 2025.
“Of course, I agree that until the very last moments, it will be a big suspense but based on the last five rounds of matches we have played in the group and after seeing one another, I think we(Benin) are just behind the Super Eagles as such, we deserve the second ticket in order to qualify for the AFCON 2025,” he concluded.
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
