‘It was hard’ - Benin Republic coach Gernot Rohr names three players that hurt his team

The Super Eagles opened their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign with a massive win over former head coach Gernot Rohr.

Ballon d’Or nominee Ademola Lookman and Galatasaray’s new boy, Victor Osimhen, helped the Super Eagles seal a 3-0 victory over Benin Republic.

The defeat did not sit right with the former Super Eagles coach, as he named some of the Super Eagles laters that cost his team.

During his press conference after the game, Rohr acknowledged that the Super Eagles' bench which includes Osimhen, Simon and Dele-Bashiru, was stronger than his team,

The German tactician said, "It is hard result for us, we conceded the first goal in the first additional minute of the first half and it was a shock little bit for my team I think and then the team of Nigeria could start the second half in confidence.

"And this victory without any discussion when I see players coming in Moses Simon, Osimhen, Dele-Bashiru.

"The bench you have here in Nigeria is fantastic and we don't have that but my young team is learning and we showed that against the Super Eagles in June and full of future and we have to learn from the mistakes today."

The three-time African champions paid the Cheetahs back in kind after they defeated them in June during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

The Super Eagles and Cheetahs will play their second group match against Rwanda and Libya, respectively, on Tuesday.