2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Benin want to stay top and do even better – says Rohr

Photo Credit - Fédération football guépard Bénin.

Benin coach Gernot Rohr has expressed the national team's desire to keep the top spot in their Group and do even better in the qualification campaign of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Currently placed in Group C of the qualifiers, Benin are sitting joint top with Rwanda and South Africa on seven points each. However, Rwanda are ranked at the number one team because of a better goal aggregate while South Africa’s Bafana are placed second.

Heading into their matchday five fixture against Zimbabwe Warriors at Moses Mabhida Stadium in South on Thursday and matchday six battle against Bafana at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny on Tuesday, March 25, the former Super Eagles coach is focused on staying at the top of the group.

“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 as quoted by 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.”

In his squad to face Zimbabwe, Rohr included Italian-based teenage striker Candas Fiogbé, who plays for Atalanta’s under-20 team while French-based pair of Aiyegun Tosin and Cédric Hountondji will miss the games due to injuries.