World Cup Q: Rohr says Benin ready to do their part against Nigeria

Benin national team head coach Gernot Rohr has revealed their readiness to secure the World Cup by beating Nigeria at Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Tuesday.

The Cheetahs are currently topping the pile with17 points while South Africa are second with 15 points. Nigeria are third on 14 points. Going into the final matches of Group C, the Super Eagles will need nothing less than a win to secure automatic qualification for the global tournament.

‘My team is ready, they made good progress’

“We go for a win but we know that we have to be patient and we know that Nigeria has only a chance if they win, so I believe it will be a very open match,” Rohr told reporters as quoted by Allnigeriasoccer.

“When you see that we played all the matches away, not one match at home. We are used to playing away and to have some finals. We had it also in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

“We also had the last game in Libya under very special circumstances. Nigeria saw how it is there, and we qualified there in a very bad atmosphere.”

Rohr added: “My team is ready, they made good progress, worked hard, and when you see that South Africa from the ten games played seven games at home, only two games away in Rwanda and Nigeria. Against us, it was in Ivory Coast.

“So it was a big advantage for South Africa, it’s not equal. That’s why I think we are here now and we should enjoy this game, not only to have stress and think of the result but to be happy to be here and to play a good football game, in a good spirit.

“It’s not a war, it’s a football game. Whatever will be the result, we will leave here and we will stay friends. Now the moment for us is to be ready, to be relaxed and to have a good game tomorrow (Tuesday).

“We have suspended players, two other players, now we miss five players because we already had two injured players. So it’s not easy, we don’t have the same number of high-level players like you have here. But the team spirit is so good and the collective is strong, that we still can hope.”

A win for Benin against Nigeria could further complicate matters for South Africa, who will face Rwanda in their qualifier at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday.