'Gave us qualification' - Gernot Rohr reveals his best match as Super Eagles coach

Benin's Cheetahs coach Gernot Rohr has returned to familiar surroundings as his side prepare to take on the Super Eagles in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match on Saturday, September 7.

Rohr's five-year tenure with the Super Eagles ended on a bitter note as he was shown the exit door by the Nigeria Football Federation one month before the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria achieved notable wins against Zambia, Algeria, Cameroon, Argentina, Poland, and Libya under Rohr, and held both Brazil and Ukraine to draws.

The former Bayern Munich defender has admitted that the win against Zambia in a 2018 World Cup qualifier in October 2017 was his most memorable and best match as coach of the Super Eagles. 

Less then ten minutes after coming off the bench, Alex Iwobi scored the goal that sealed qualification for the World Cup in Russia

The three points earned by the Super Eagles versus  Zambia were vital as their subsequent draw with Algeria was overturned, with FIFA awarding the North Africans three points because Abdullahi Shehu was ruled ineligible to play.

Speaking at Friday's press conference, Rohr said: "The matches you spoke about were fantastic. My first match was here, against Tanzania, we won it. We had to go to Zambia and we won it. We started with victories here against the team you talked about.

"The victory against newly crowned African champions Cameroon was a big one, particularly wonderful for us. 

"The 1-0 victory against Zambia which gave us qualification for the World Cup was the best one. After we went to Algeria, we played a good match, drawing but lost on the green carpet. 

"Fortunately for everybody, we were already qualified".

With Rohr in the dugout, the Super Eagles competed in 54 matches, winning 27, drawing 13 and losing 14.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit: Fédération Béninoise de Football

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