Benin’s Cheetahs coach, Gernot Rohr, has strongly criticized Super Eagles interim manager Augustine Eguavoen for opting to rest key players during Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat to Rwanda in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
A Decision that Raised Eyebrows
Eguavoen made seven changes to the starting lineup against Rwanda, giving opportunities to fringe players such as Maduka Okoye, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Raphael Onyedika, and Moses Simon, among others.
Star players like Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, and goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali were all rested, despite Nigeria already having secured qualification for the tournament in Morocco.
The decision has sparked significant controversy, especially given that Benin, coached by Rohr, was relying on a Nigeria win to improve their own AFCON qualification prospects.
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Rohr’s Criticism of Eguavoen
In an interview with Africa Foot United, Rohr expressed his disappointment at Eguavoen’s decision to field a weakened team.
He emphasized that while Nigeria had already qualified, the game against Rwanda should have been taken more seriously to show respect for their opponents and the competition.
“Unfortunately, in their last match in Uyo, I think they lacked respect by putting in a reserve team and resting players like Osimhen, Lookman, Iwobi, Ndidi, the goalkeeper.
I was a little disappointed to see that, on the pretext that we had already qualified,” Rohr said.
He further highlighted that the Cheetahs had been hoping Nigeria would secure a victory to boost their own chances, adding, “We were very happy to meet them again.
The match in Abidjan, we were leading 1-0. If we had played it in Cotonou, maybe we would have held on to the result until the end, because we had the public who were demanding and chanting Osimhen’s name.”
A Reflection on Fair Play and Respect
Rohr also reflected on his history with the Super Eagles, saying there was “a lot of friendship” between him and the Nigerian players, many of whom he had worked with previously.
However, he did not shy away from voicing his disappointment that Eguavoen chose to rest key figures in a match that still held significance for other teams in the qualifying race.
Despite his criticisms, Rohr acknowledged the importance of the game for Benin and praised their performance, which secured their qualification for the 2025 AFCON. He concluded, “It was a great experience.”
The ongoing debate about the match highlights the importance of not just securing qualification but also respecting the competition and the spirit of fair play in international football.
