Benin head coach Gernot Rohr says he is targeting all available points when the Cheetahs host South Africa in a 2026 World Cup qualifiers matchday six encounter on Tuesday, Afrosport reports.
After five rounds of matches in Group C, Benin sits second with eight points, two behind leaders South Africa, and Rohr is upbeat about his team’s chances of upsetting the higher-ranked side.
The two teams will clash at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on Tuesday, as the race for the sole qualifying ticket in Group C continues to heat up.
“Yes, we have reached the half-way stage with five matches and we [Benin] have had three away games and two home games in Abidjan and not in Cotonou, but we are second in the group,” said Rohr as per The Nation.
“If we beat South Africa on Tuesday in Abidjan, we will go to 11 points and be leader of this group, which will be fantastic.
“As such, we are going to do everything and make a surprise against South Africa, who on paper, are the favourites.”
While Rohr’s side will face Bafana Bafana, Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles will take on the Warriors of Zimbabwe at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on the same day.
The German tactician, meanwhile, hailed Nigeria’s performance against Rwanda’s Amavubi in Kigali but believes Zimbabwe, coached by Rohr’s compatriot, Michael Nees, will pose a different test of the Super Eagles.
“I saw the goals from [Victor] Osimhen; wonderful and congrats,” the former Super Eagles gaffer said. “I think Nigeria is on the right way also [for the 2026 FIFA World Cup].
“It would be very interesting games on Tuesday but I also think Zimbabwe has a very good team with a good coach [Michael Nees] from Germany. They played well against us in Durban and they have some wonderful players too from England and Saudi Arabia.
“It may not be that easy for the Super Eagles,” he stated.
