Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has voiced skepticism regarding Nigeria’s legitimate advancement from their CAF World Cup qualifying group.
Currently managing the Benin Republic national team, Rohr criticized the refereeing in Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualifier, implying that the Super Eagles benefited from questionable decisions.
The German tactician argued that two of Victor Osimhen‘s goals during Nigeria’s 4-0 triumph were contentious, effectively ending Benin’s hopes of World Cup qualification.
Rohr Questions the Fairness of Nigeria’s Victory
On October 14, in a fixture hosted in Uyo, Victor Osimhen, the Galatasaray striker, scored a hat-trick to lead Nigeria to a commanding win. Nevertheless, Rohr insists that the first two goals should have been ruled out, a verdict that might have been rectified with the assistance of VAR technology.
“Our primary frustration stems from the initial two goals conceded to Nigeria in this pivotal match. In my opinion, these should have been ruled differently, which would have contributed to a more equitable result,” Rohr told CAFonline.
Rohr pointed out that Osimhen’s opening goal came from an offside position after receiving a pass from Samuel Chukwueze, a call that the match officials failed to notice.
Shortly thereafter, Osimhen scored again with a powerful header, which Benin’s players contested, claiming a foul had occurred in the buildup to the goal.
The referee rejected Benin’s appeals, allowing the goal to stand despite a Benin defender remaining on the ground injured for several minutes.
Benin’s Impressive Run Ends in Heartbreak
Benin finished the qualifiers with 17 points, equal to Nigeria’s total, but missed out on advancing due to CAF’s points calculation system, which was affected by Eritrea’s withdrawal from the group.
“Matching Nigeria’s points tally is a significant morale boost for us,” Rohr commented. He also emphasized Benin’s remarkable feats, noting, “We were the sole team to defeat Nigeria on their home ground in Abidjan, while Nigeria remained unbeaten in all other matches.”
Despite the disappointment, Rohr’s guidance has significantly raised Benin’s football profile, transforming a relatively unknown team into a respected contender and earning widespread recognition.
Meanwhile, Nigeria now gear up for a crucial playoff against Gabon in Morocco on November 13, aiming to clinch Africa’s final spot at the World Cup.