Gernot Rohr comments on the loss to the Super Eagles: "We are devastated!" | OneFootball

Gernot Rohr comments on the loss to the Super Eagles: "We are devastated!"

The dream was palpable, a historic feat hovering just ninety minutes away. For the Benin national team, the Cheetahs, a final victory against the Super Eagles of Nigeria would have sealed their first-ever trip to a World Cup, a destiny entirely in their own hands. But that dream dissolved in a devastating 4-0 defeat, a result that left not just a loss, but a profound sense of what could have been.

Under the guidance of German coach Gernot Rohr, the team had been the surprise package of Group C, perched at the top and on the cusp of immortality. Instead, they were left to confront their heaviest loss under his tenure, a match dominated by Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen's hat-trick. The aftermath was one of deep disappointment, with Rohr confessing to the raw emotion that filled the camp. ("It's true that the heavy defeat in Nigeria caused a lot of frustration within the staff and the dressing room, since we saw this World Cup very close," he shared with Joueurs Beninois.

In the wake of such a crushing exit, the path forward requires clear-eyed assessment. For Rohr, the lessons are stark and point directly to the back line. The coach has already identified the primary area demanding attention, stating, “The areas for improvement are mainly defensive discipline. There are still a lot of mistakes...”

With the World Cup dream extinguished, the focus must now abruptly shift. The horizon holds the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, where Benin finds itself in a challenging group with giants Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Botswana. The journey to recover from this heartbreak and build a more resilient side begins now.