AFCON 2025: Rohr Warns Eagles Ahead Of Uyo

Sequel to their shock 2-1 defeat of Nigeria in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier in Abidjan last June, German Coach, Gernot Rohr is confident that The Cheetahs of Benin would yet again be at the ready when they face the Super Eagles in their Match Day 1 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification in September.
Both Nigeria and Benin are drawn in Group D along with Libya and Rwanda. While Benin will be home to Libya on Match Day 2, Nigeria will travel to Kigali to face the Amavubi (The Wasps) of Rwanda.
As the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) dilly dallies over naming a substantive coach for the Super Eagles since Finidi George ‘walked away’, after that insipid display in June, Rohr, who switched from Nigeria to manage The Cheetahs, is enthused about meeting a somewhat ’familiar foe’ at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on September 7.
“Our preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Nigeria and Libya are going well and I’m already in Cotonou to, first of all, offer support to our two teams playing in the continental cups.
After overseeing The Cheetahs’ defeat of the Super Eagles on the eve of his 71st birthday last June at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, the former Bayern Munich defender is equally hopeful about the prospect of handing Nigeria the humble pie in Uyo, adding that the Beninese team will parade a formidable front irrespective of their pedigree.
”We will be happy to play (Nigeria) in Uyo, which is really a fantastic stadium; one of the most beautiful stadia in Africa,” remarked the very experienced Rohr who ensured the Super Eagles qualification to the Russia 2018 FIFA World Cup and Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. “In fact, I’m happy for Nigeria that they can play again there (in Uyo) because we could not play there for several reasons during my last two years with the Super Eagles.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles are expected to resume camping in Uyo on September 1 ahead of their 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Benin and Rwanda, Tidesports report.
A team official, who disclosed this to our correspondent last Wednesday, said, “The backroom staff will be in Uyo from September 1, and we expect most of the players to arrive in good time.”
The three-time African champions will welcome the Cheetahs of Benin Republic on September 7 starting at 5 pm at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo and fly out to another 2026 World Cup qualifying rivals Rwanda, three days later for a second AFCON qualifier.
They are currently without a coach, with the Nigeria Football Federation stalling the appointment of a new handler following Finidi George’s exit from the saddle in June.
The body is currently torn between former Sweden coach Janne Andersson and Hervé Renard, with a vast experience in African football, having coached the national teams of Zambia, Angola, Ivory Coast, and Morocco.