Ex-Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr ‘steals’ 26-goal Nigerian striker for Benin

Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has handed Joseph Ede Oloko his first call-up to the Benin national team after the striker's outstanding season in Latvia, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 25-year-old forward was named in Rohr's 25-man squad for Benin's opening TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers against Burkina Faso and Mauritania, followed by a friendly against world champions Argentina.

CAF reports that Oloko has scored 26 goals and supplied six assists in 30 matches across all competitions for FK Liepāja this season. He is the only new player in Rohr's squad.

Benin will face Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou on September 25 before meeting Mauritania four days later on September 29. The Cheetahs will then travel to Buenos Aires for their meeting with Argentina on October 6.

Nigerian Super Eagles roots, Benin eligibility and a new international battle

Oloko was born in Nigeria on January 10, 2001, and has Nigerian and Beninese nationality, according to Beninese publication Banouto. His early football development also came in Nigeria before he moved into the Beninese and European football systems.

His career has taken him from the Nigerian 36 Lion FC academy to AS Cotonou in Benin, followed by spells in the Czech Republic before he moved to Latvia. He joined FK Liepāja in January 2025.

Oloko started the year 2026 on loan at FK Tukums 2000 before returning to Liepāja in June. During his spell with Tukums, he scored heavily, including four goals against Ogre United, before continuing his form after returning to Liepāja.

The timing of Oloko's call-up also gives Rohr an attacking option after experienced striker Steve Mounié was ruled out through injury. Defender Olivier Verdon is also unavailable because of suspension.

Rohr knows the Nigerian football system well after managing the Super Eagles from 2016 until December 2021. He led Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup and a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations before the Nigeria Football Federation ended his tenure on the eve of the 2021 AFCON.

Rohr could hand Oloko his senior international debut during Benin's September qualifiers. That would give the 25-year-old a chance to take his prolific club form into the AFCON qualification campaign and shut the door on any future Super Eagles call-up.