Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr is no stranger to the talent within Nigeria’s Super Eagles, having once managed the squad himself.
Photo by Muzamil Raji
While he openly admires several Nigerian stars, three in particular stand out in his mind—a trio he describes with great fondness, Footballrover reports.
Yet, as much as he praises them, there’s one forward he hopes will stay silent on the score sheet when they meet on Thursday, after a stunning performance in their last clash.
Rohr, who previously guided the Nigerian team to notable achievements, has a special admiration for three of their stars.
Rohr’s admiration for Super Eagles stars runs deep
But he’s particularly cautious about Ademola Lookman, whose two goals sealed a 3-0 victory over Benin in the AFCON qualifiers’ opening match.
Rohr considers Lookman one of the continent’s best players and a top contender for the prestigious African Player of the Year award.
The former Super Eagles boss spoke highly of Lookman, alongside Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon, praising their abilities and recalling the years he coached many of these players.
But he humorously expressed hope that Lookman’s scoring prowess would be kept in check this time, as Benin looks to avoid a repeat of their last meeting.
“We see that in your (Nigeria) list you have Victor Osimhen, Lookman, Moses Simon, and all the big strikers but I love these players because most of them were with me a few years ago,” Rohr told the NationSport.
“But I hope he will not score against us (on Thursday) like he did in the last game in Uyo.”
With Nigeria one point away from sealing their place at the upcoming AFCON in Morocco, Rohr is aware of the task ahead.
He’s seen the Super Eagles’ strength firsthand, and knows Lookman’s recent achievements—helping Atalanta secure a Europa League spot and nearly winning the AFCON MVP award—make him a formidable opponent.
Photo by Muzamil Raji
The Super Eagles, led by caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen, will be aiming to maintain their unbeaten form, while Rohr is eager to see if his Cheetahs can pull off an upset.
For Rohr, it’s a battle between admiration and rivalry, as he hopes Nigeria’s top guns won’t spoil Benin’s qualifying dreams on Thursday.
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