2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Gernot Rohr suffers major blow ahead of Super Eagles’ revenge mission

Gernot Rohr's revenge mission ahead of Benin Republic's clash against the Super Eagles of Nigeria appears to be facing significant setbacks, Soccernet.ng reports.

Benin Republic is scheduled to face the Nigerian national team at the Felix Houphouet Stadium in Abidjan on June 10th as part of the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The German tactician, who led the Super Eagles for over five years, has emphasized the importance of his current team securing a victory against their West African neighbors.

However, his quest for a win against Finidi George’s squad faces a significant blow due to an injury to their in-form forward, Andreas Hountondji.

Rohr’s Revenge Mission Against Nigeria

Rohr did not leave his role as the Super Eagles coach on a good note, having been sacked by the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick.

According to Pinnick, Rohr was dismissed due to a lack of discipline within the team, with Augustine Eguavoen appointed as interim coach to restore order.

“We did everything that we could, but one major factor was that discipline in the team is lost practically. In the dressing room, discipline in the team was at its lowest ebb and once you remove discipline, that foundation in the team has cracked,” Pinnick stated, as quoted by Punch.

After his departure from the Super Eagles, Rohr was appointed by Benin Republic and has been on a mission to retaliate for his disappointing exit.

Rohr Dealt Major Blow

Rohr's revenge mission has been significantly dented with the injury to Andreas Hountondji, who has been having a standout goal-scoring season.

Hountondji sustained a hamstring injury during the second half of the Ligue 1/Ligue 2 playoff between Rodez and Saint-Étienne on May 24.

According to a report from the Fédération Béninoise de Football, medical examinations revealed a hamstring injury, making Hountondji doubtful for Benin’s upcoming games against Rwanda and the Super Eagles. Hountondji has been pivotal for Rodez, contributing to 21 goals in 39 appearances.

Under Gernot Rohr’s leadership, Benin has managed only one win, five draws, and four losses, making the next two matches crucial for the Cheetahs' hopes in the qualifiers.