German coach, Gernot Rohr believes The Cheetahs of Benin deserve to pick  the second ticket from Group D of the 2025  Africa Cup of Nations qualification after  the Super Eagles claimed  group’s the first ticket last Thursday.

Hostilities towards qualification  for Morocco 2025  will come to an end today as The Cheetahs  are away to Libya in Tripoli while the Super Eagles host the Wasps of Rwanda  in Uyo.

Rohr, who incidentally guided Nigeria to the 2019 AFCON after the Super Eagles  missed  the  continental party in Equatorial Guinea 2015 and  Gabon 2017, remains confident  of helping  Benin break their own duck since their last appearance at Egypt  2019 by securing a positive result  against the Mediterranean Knights in Tripoli today.

“Today is a big game for us and decisive one  because we conceded an equaliser in the  last minute few minutes of the match against Nigeria in Abidjan,” Rohr told NationSports from Tripoli yesterday. “We could  have mathematically qualified last time (Thursday) if we’d  won (against Nigeria ).”

Going into the last round of matches today, Rohr admitted that Benin must do everything to avoid defeat in Tripoli since The Cheetahs are on seven points while Rwanda  are on five points, adding a shock  win  for the Wasps in Uyo could upset

“ Two of the three possible results in a football match will be good for us (to qualify for AFCON 2025) as such, we must avoid defeat in the match against Libya,” the vastly experienced former Bayern Munich  and Bordeaux defender further said.

He added: “At least if we can get a draw, we would qualify even if  Rwanda is winning in Uyo against  Nigeria which I don’t believe it is possible and even If we draw against Libya  and Rwanda  win Uyo, we would still qualify because we have a general better goal difference.

“That’s the situation  but we have to keep eyes only on our own game because I’m confident the Super Eagles playing at home, cannot allow defeat by Rwanda.”

Away from mathematical permutations, Rohr said his optimism  going into today’s round of matches  was borne out of the fact  that The Cheetahs  are  the most improved  team  in the group  besides the ‘illustrious’  Super Eagles who are through already to Morocco 2025.

“Of coure, I agree that until the very last moments, it will be a big suspense but based on the last five rounds of matches we have  played in the group and after seeing  one another, I think we(Benin) are just behind the Super Eagles as such, we deserve the second  ticket in order  to qualify for the AFCON 2025,” he concluded.

Credit: thenationonlineng.net