Benin Republic coach Gernot Rohr could barely hide his pain after watching his side’s World Cup ambitions evaporate in a 4–0 defeat to Nigeria on Tuesday night in Uyo.
The Super Eagles delivered a ruthless performance at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, with Victor Osimhen netting a hat-trick before Frank Onyeka sealed the victory late on to book Nigeria’s place in the African playoff stage.
For Benin, it was a crushing end to what had been a spirited qualifying campaign. Rohr’s men went into the final group game sitting at the top of the table, knowing a draw or win would have secured a historic first-ever World Cup ticket. But their hopes were dashed by a Nigerian side full of firepower and experience.
“It’s a huge disappointment,” Rohr admitted after the game. “We really wanted to make history with Benin by qualifying for the World Cup, but unfortunately, it didn’t happen. Many of my players are still developing — some are without clubs, others play in the lower divisions in Europe. Still, I’m proud of how far they came.”
Despite the heavy loss, the 72-year-old Franco-German tactician — who once managed Nigeria between 2016 and 2021 — said he was proud of the progress of his young team throughout the qualifiers.
“We’ve had a good campaign overall, even though this final game didn’t go our way. The boys have learned a lot. It’s a young group, and their commitment makes me proud,” Rohr said.
Facing his former team made the defeat even more emotional for Rohr. He recalled handing Osimhen his first senior cap for Nigeria back in 2017 and praised the striker’s growth since then.
“I remember when I first brought Osimhen into the national team at 17. He was already showing great potential,” Rohr reflected. “I’m happy to see how much he has evolved — though I wish he didn’t show it against us tonight,” he joked.
Rohr admitted that fatigue, suspensions, and defensive gaps made things difficult for his side against the high-flying Super Eagles.
“We had to rebuild our defence due to yellow card suspensions, and that affected us. Conceding so early also hurt our rhythm. When you face a player like Osimhen, it’s never easy. He makes the difference,” Rohr said.
The defeat officially ends Benin’s World Cup journey, but Rohr believes the experience will shape the team for future competitions.
Nigeria, on the other hand, will now turn their attention to a playoff semi-final against Gabon in Morocco, while Cameroon face DR Congo. The winners will clash in the final on November 16, with a place in the next round of World Cup qualification up for grabs.
