WHY ARE BENIN, WHO ARE ALSO HOMELESS AND HAVE A GERMAN COACH, FLYING?

Sports Reporter

IN the wake of the Warriors’ disastrous campaign in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, some fans have argued that it’s wrong to criticise coach Michael Nees because his team isn’t having the luxury of playing at home.

This group of fans feel the German coach has done a decent job and should be given support ahead of the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco in December.

Nees has come under intense criticism after he led the Warriors to just two wins since taking over with both victories coming against the same team – Namibia.

However, there is a section of fans, and analysts, who feel the criticism is unfair and they argue that Nees has had the misfortune of not having the advantage of playing at home.

While that is a fair point, given that football teams usually do well at home, it should not be used to cover the shortcomings of a coach who has won just five games since he started coaching on the continent at the turn of the millennium.

Interestingly, if Nees somehow escapes the chop, he will be guiding a team at the AFCON finals for the first time in his career.

He has never been to the AFCON finals with his biggest achievement to date being guiding Rwanda to third-place at the CECAFA tournament.

Ironically, Benin – who are in the same World Cup qualifying group as Zimbabwe – also do not have an approved home ground to host their matches.

Benin, just like Zimbabwe, also have a Germany coach – Gernot Rohr.

Benin have been hosting their home matches in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire.

Unlike Zimbabwe, Benin are still in the running for a place at the next World Cup finals as they are sitting in second place in Group C.

They are three points behind leaders South Africa with two round of matches still to be played.

However, Bafana Bafana are expected to be docked three points for the use of an ineligible player in a game against Lesotho.

If that happens, Benin will have the same number of points as South Africa (14) with two games to be played.

Benin have won four matches while Zimbabwe are yet to win a match.

They beat Rwanda 1-0 in their adopted Abidjan home, beat Nigeria 2-1, beat Zimbabwe 1-0 and thrashed Lesotho 4-0.

They have scored eight goals, in their adopted Abidjan home, and won all the four matches they have played there.