Benin Coach Gernot Rohr Faces Key Player Absences Ahead of AFCON Qualifiers
Benin Republic head coach, Gernot Rohr, has expressed disappointment over the absence of several key players for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Nigeria and Libya.
The team will be without Cedric Hountondji, Olivier Verdon, Matteo Ahlinvi, and David Kiki for the crucial matches, which poses a significant challenge for the Cheetahs. Despite these setbacks, Rohr remains confident that his squad can still perform without these influential players.
He acknowledged the importance of the missing players, particularly in defense, as both Hountondji and Verdon would have been crucial in strengthening the team’s backline. However, the German coach is determined to manage without them and remains upbeat about his team’s chances in the qualifiers.
The Cheetahs currently sit in second place in Group B with six points from four games, and they will face Nigeria in what promises to be a thrilling West African derby at the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan on Thursday. This game will be crucial for both teams as they push for qualification to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Following their match against Nigeria, Benin Republic will face Libya just four days later in their final qualifier. Despite the absences, Rohr is hopeful that his remaining players will step up to secure the necessary results for the team’s qualification hopes.