Former Super Eagles manager Gernot Rohr, who is now with neighbouring Benin Republic, will opt for attacking football in Thursday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying duel between Benin Republic and Nigeria.
Sources in the Benin Republic informed that the Franco-German coach must win the potentially difficult match to get Benin’s qualifying chances back on track.
A win will put the team just a point behind the group leaders. He therefore tweaked his 25-man selection with three major returns that added Remo Stars’ Sergie Adebiyi Obassa who had previously been in goal for the team while featuring for Buffles FC du Borgou.
Also included is Ryan Adigo.
His inclusion and that of Obassa is to present an air-tight defence line to wade off possible counter-attack by the Super Eagles whose territory, the Benin Cheetahs hope to put under constant bombardment.
To further seal the Cheetahs’ defence line, Cédric Hountondji has been assigned as a replacement for injured Rabiou Sankamao.
It is the first time that Sankamao will be absent from Gernot Rohr’s squad since his U-20 days at Egypt 2022.
David Kiki who has been absent since the injury he sustained last September in Uyo during the first-leg match with the Super Eagles has recovered and will be fielded on Thursday night.
He could be at the left-full back in place of Yohan Roche. Possibly to lead the attack will be the duo of Jodel Dossou and Steve Mouna, who scored last June in Benin Republic’s first-ever defeat of the Nigerian national team in 65 years.
