Benin's head coach Gernot Rohr gives a press conference at the Agadir Grand Stadium, Morocco, on January 4, 2026, on the eve of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) round of 16 football match between Egypt and Benin. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP)
Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has backed Morocco and Senegal to make significant progress at the 2026 FIFA World Cup while expressing disappointment at Nigeria’s continued absence from football’s biggest stage, saying it is a real shame that stars of the calibre of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are not on show in North America.
Rohr, who guided Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup in Russia and currently manages Benin Republic, spoke with Footy-Africa after watching several matches in the United States before returning home, and said African teams have closed the gap on their European and South American counterparts to the point where parity can now be claimed.
“From what I saw physically, in the two games featuring Morocco against Brazil and France against Senegal, as well as Ivory Coast against Ecuador, I think the African teams are doing well at the moment,” he said.
“Perhaps it was a bit difficult for South Africa, the Bafana Bafana, and it was certainly tough for them in the opening game. Tunisia and Algeria also had difficult moments, but they all performed well.”
