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BENIN gaffer and former Nigeria Super Eagles coach, Genort Rohr, has expressed his desire to retain their spot at the top of the 2026 World Cup football qualifying Group C as marathon resumes with the Match-day five and six assignments starting tomorrow.
Rohr has also literally dared the Warriors, refusing to consider them a factor in the bid for World Cup qualification.
Instead, the veteran coach has installed South Africa as his favourites, while insisting that his Benin are in no mood to let-up on joint top spot as they step up to face a Warriors side still in buoyant mood after a fine 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign.
The Cheetahs might be in third place but they are joint leaders in a cagey Group C that has Rwanda as the surprise leaders ahead of South Africa with the trip all on seven points but separated by goal difference.
Zimbabwe anchor the group standings with two points from four matches while giants and pool favourites Nigeria are a rung above them with three and Lesotho sit on fourth place with five.
As the race for places at the World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada resumes, Rohr’s team will be in Durban, South Africa, tomorrow for a date with the Warriors at Moses Mabhida stadium (6pm).
Benin just like the Warriors and Lesotho do not have a stadium that meets the Confederation of African Football standards and the Cheetahs have been using their adopted home in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, where they will clash against South Africa days after meeting Zimbabwe.
The Warriors on their part will head to Uyo, soon after tomorrow’s game to take the Super Eagles next Tuesday
But as his charges prepared for their first meeting with the Warriors, Rohr, who will have a battle of wits with fellow German Michael Nees, spoke about tomorrow’s key encounter.
Rohr said he was surprised to see his team among the leaders but fancies their chance to stay top at the end of the incoming international window.
“It is really a surprise that we (Benin), Rwanda and South Africa are the leaders after the four opening rounds of matches in this tough Group C,” Rohr said via Nation Sports.
“We won our two last games in Abidjan and now we are going to play away (against Zimbabwe in Durban) and the next against South Africa in Abidjan on March 25.
“It may be a surprise but we are here (top of Group C) and we want to stay here and do even better.”
After four matches, Rohr’s men have won two matches including a stunning 2-1 win over Nigeria last June.
They have also drawn one match while also losing once.
The Super Eagles have so far failed to win any match in the series and join Zimbabwe in that unwanted record.
Under new coach Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles will also face Rwanda in Kigali on Friday, before they host the Warriors in Uyo.
While he might be in charge of Beni, Rohr has actually installed Bafana Bafana as group favourites and says South Africa are in a better position to qualify for the even ahead of his former side Nigeria.
South Africa, who finished third at the last Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, are only second on the current World Cup Group C standings behind Rwanda due to an inferior goal difference.
Rohr reckoned that while the Super Eagles and South Africa are the favourites, the latter hold a better chance of making it to the World Cup ahead of his former side despite admitting that both teams have quality players in their ranks.
“South Africa and Nigeria are the favourites in this Group C, and I quite agree,” said the German coach upon touching down in South Africa for their clash against Zimbabwe at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, according to NationSports.
“They can win the group when you look at the quality of their players, even though some of them are not even playing regularly (with their clubs) because they are not fit enough.
“You can say they are favourites, especially South Africa, but we shall see. But for us, we are preparing well.
“We are already here in Durban with some players already, and more coming in tomorrow (today); so, we have started preparations already.
“It was a long trip to Durban, and we had about a six-hour stopover in Johannesburg before we connected to Durban, but we are expecting about four more players tonight.” — soccernetng/punchng
