Benin coach Gernot Rohr has acknowledged his team will enter their Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 clash against Egypt as underdogs.
The West African side will face the Pharaohs next Monday, with Rohr sharing his thoughts on preparations during an interview with Al-Nahar.
“We are preparing in Rabat and will move to Agadir before the match to get familiar with the city and the pitch,” Rohr explained.
“Big teams often benefit from settling in and playing in the same stadium. We faced a similar challenge in Tangier against Senegal, but we’ll adapt and make the most of our preparation. We still have a few days to fine-tune things.”
He noted some minor setbacks in his squad, including injuries and a suspension, but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform.
“We have players active in Egypt who understand the Egyptian squad well, and we can also draw lessons from Nigeria’s recent matches against them,” Rohr added.
Recognizing Egypt’s status as tournament favorites, Rohr said, “We are aware that Egypt is expected to win and that we are the underdogs. That suits us. We remain humble but ambitious, aiming to deliver a strong performance.”
Highlighting Egypt’s strengths, he continued, “They are a solid team, rarely conceding goals—only once against Zimbabwe—and they play in Agadir almost like it’s their home. It will be a tough task, but we are determined to rise to the challenge.”
