Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr has attributed Nigeria’s 3-0 win over his team to the impact of the Super Eagles’ bench.
In a post-match interview, Rohr acknowledged that the Nigerian team’s substitutions made a significant difference in the game.
Nigeria boasted a very strong attacking option of Victor Boniface, Ademola Lookman, and Chukwueze in the starting lineup but still had African Best Player of the Year Victor Osimhen and Nantes-informed forward Moses Simon, as well as Taiwo Awoniyi, on the bench.
Ademola Lookman struck late in the first half to put the Super Eagles upfront, while Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, and Dele-Bashiru came on in the second half to boost the team’s morale.
Osimhen scored his 22nd goal for the Super Eagles a few minutes after replacing Victor Boniface.
READ MORE: Nigeria go top of group D after 3:0 smashing of Benin Republic
“The bench won Nigeria the match,” Rohr said. He also praised the Super Eagles’ defensive organization, stating, “The Super Eagles were organised defensively.”
Rohr couldn’t help but express admiration for the electric atmosphere at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, saying, “The crowd in Uyo was wonderful; they pushed the team to win. We don’t have that in Benin Republic.”
Victor Osimhen came in from the bench to score Nigeria’s second goal with a superb finish (Photo credit: The Athletic Images)
The Benin Republic coach noted that his team faced a different Super Eagles side, with over five key players returning to the Nigerian team. He also lamented the absence of his team’s key defenders, which he felt affected the outcome of the game.
Despite the defeat, Rohr remains optimistic about his team’s chances in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. He stated, “We will try to win in Abidjan against Libya. Our goal is to finish second in the group.”
Rohr’s comments may be a pointer to the challenges his team faced against a strong Nigerian side. However, the former Super Eagles’ Coach is determined to bounce back and secure a top-two finish in the group .
The Benin Republic team will look to regroup and come back stronger in their next match against Libya on Tuesday evening.
