Gernot Rohr has expressed his desire to lead Benin Republic to the FIFA World Cup, replicating the feat he achieved with Nigeria in 2018 in Russia.
The 70-year-old Franco-German made the assertion after the Cheetahs outclassed the Super Eagles 2-1 in a Group C qualifying fixture at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan on Monday.
Jodel Dossou drew them level on 37 minutes, 10 minutes after Raphael Onyedika put Nigeria ahead against the run of play, while Steve Mounié struck late into the second half to seal a memorable outing by the Cheetahs. The win saw them assume leadership of the pile with seven points, fueling Rohr’s hope for a ticket to the Mundial in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
“When I arrived in Benin, they trusted me with a 3-year contract. I said we want to go to the World Cup; I did the World Cup with Nigeria in Russia; we had a very young team, the youngest in the World Cup in fact, and I want to do it again; we have to make the players dream; we have to make the staff dream; and why not? Rohr, the hero of Monday’s famous victory, was carried shoulder-high by his players after the match.
With a game to spare, Rohr qualified Nigeria for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, failing to make it out of Group D, which also comprised Croatia, the Republic of Ireland, and Argentina. After losing 2-0 to Croatia in the opening game, the Super Eagles stormed back, reckoning with the same margin of victory over Ireland, but lost 2-1 against Argentina in their last group game to finish in third place with three points.
Hired on August 9, 2016, the former Bordeaux coach was relieved of his position by the NFF on December 13, 2021, after almost six years in the saddle, recording 35 wins, 16 draws, and 13 losses in 64 matches in charge.