Genot Rohr says Super Eagles have not recorded significant progress since his sack

Gernot Rohr, the head coach of Benin Republic’s national football team, has launched a stinging critique at his former team, the Nigeria Super Eagles, suggesting that they have not made significant progress since his departure as head coach.

Rohr who led the Super Eagles for several years before being sacked on the eve of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, highlighted Nigeria’s underwhelming performances in recent tournaments, including their early exit from the AFCON and failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Despite Nigeria’s second-place finish at the 2023 AFCON under Jose Peseiro’s guidance, Rohr expressed dissatisfaction with the team’s playing style, particularly criticizing the defensive tactics employed during the tournament.

“They haven’t really made the progress they thought they would when I was asked to leave,” Rohr said in comments per OWNGOAL.

“It’s even more about the players I left behind and a style that wasn’t the best at the CAN.”

Asserting his perspective, Rohr pointed out that many of the players currently in the Super Eagles squad were introduced to the national team during his tenure, implying that the team’s success could be attributed to his efforts.

Rohr’s comments come as Nigeria faces Benin Republic in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Despite Nigeria’s slow start in the qualifying campaign, Rohr believes that the Super Eagles remain the favorites to secure qualification, emphasizing their quality and potential to overturn the deficit in subsequent matches.

“They (the Super Eagles) are only two points behind the group leaders (Rwanda), and that is an advantage they can overturn in the next round,” added Rohr.

“We cannot rule out a team with the quality of the Nigerian team.

“Every team in the group knows it.”

During his tenure as Super Eagles coach, Rohr achieved a respectable record of 35 wins, 16 draws, and 13 defeats in 64 games. However, his stint with Benin has been less successful, with just one victory in ten games.

Rohr’s remarks reflect the competitive dynamics within African football, highlighting the high expectations and scrutiny placed on national teams, particularly those with a rich footballing heritage like Nigeria.