It caused a lot of frustration - Super Eagles and Osimhen force Rohr to change Benin's tactics

Benin's head coach, Gernot Rohr, has admitted that the crushing World Cup qualifying loss to Nigeria has forced him to rethink his team's tactical approach, particularly in defence.

The Cheetahs were on the verge of securing a historic World Cup playoff spot but were ultimately denied by the Super Eagles in a decisive final matchday showdown.

A hat-trick from Victor Osimhen and a late goal from Frank Onyeka sealed the victory for Nigeria, leaving Benin to reflect on what might have been.

Rohr, a former coach of the Super Eagles, acknowledged the lingering psychological impact of the defeat as his team prepares for the upcoming AFCON 2025 qualifiers.

"It’s true that the heavy defeat in Nigeria caused a lot of frustration inside the staff and the dressing room, since we saw this World Cup very close," Rohr conceded.

The German tactician has identified defensive solidity as a key area for improvement. Benin has been drawn in Group D for the AFCON qualifiers alongside Senegal, DR Congo, and Botswana.

"The points to improve are mainly defensive rigour. There are still many mistakes, as we have seen against Nigeria. At the level of the defensive organisation with a three-man axis, we will work on this to have a second plan, to vary a little defensively," he explained.

Benin will begin their AFCON 2025 qualifying campaign on December 23rd against DR Congo at the Stade El Barid in Rabat, Morocco.