Morocco 2025: with several absences, Benin takes on Egypt this Monday.
Deprived of Abdoul Rachid Moumini and already hampered by several absences, Benin enters the AFCON Round of 16 as an underdog against Egypt. Level-headed but ambitious, Gernot Rohr embraces the challenge and bets on the solidarity and team spirit of his Leopards to try to topple one of the giants of African football.
SUMMARY
The challenge ahead for Benin is immense. On the eve of the AFCON Round of 16 match against Egypt, the Leopards must cope with another blow. Warned in the matches against the DR Congo and Senegal, Abdoul Rachid Moumini is suspended and will miss this crucial meeting. The right-back thus becomes the third notable absentee for coach Gernot Rohr, after Steve Mounié and David Kiki.
In the pre-match press conference, Gernot Rohr did not try to mask the difficulty of the task. “We are expecting a very tough match against a high-level opponent,” he acknowledged, noting that Benin is not approaching this duel as a favorite. Nevertheless, the Franco-German coach refuses any resignation: “We must play our chances to the fullest. We have the ambition to put in a good performance and why not qualify.”
Confronted with absences and fitness problems, Rohr is betting on the collective spirit. “We have injury issues, and a suspension as well, but the squad is motivated enough to cope,” he insists, convinced that the experience accumulated against top national teams can weigh in a knockout match.
A context different from the group-stage matches
The coach also sought to downplay comparisons with previous matches, notably against Senegal. “You can’t compare a group-stage match to a round of 16. It’s a different dimension,” he notes, also referring to controversial refereeing decisions and calling for refereeing that respects the spirit of fair play. Facing a solid Egypt, who qualified after a penalty win against South Africa, Rohr hopes that “the best wins.”
Alongside the coach, Olivier Verdon, who will wear the captain’s armband, shows unwavering determination. “It’s a knockout match against a fine team, and it’s really motivating,” he says. Proud of the progress made, the central defender recalls that qualification for the knockout rounds was only the first objective. “Now we are ambitious.”
Verdon highlights the collective work and the team’s progress since the start of the competition. “On paper, we do not have the best squad, but in terms of fighting spirit and solidarity, we are very cohesive. If we stick to our game plan, we have a great chance to advance.”
The prize-money controversy swept aside
Finally, Gernot Rohr sought to deny reports of an exceptional 300,000-euro prize promised in case of qualification. “We read the same thing in the press, but no club official has spoken to us about it,” he said, describing it as mere rumors. While acknowledging that a qualification against Egypt “would frankly deserve a substantial bonus,” the coach insists that the sporting stakes come first.
On Monday evening, in Morocco, Benin will therefore try to defy the odds against the Egyptian giant. Weakened but united, the Leopards know that an upset would bring them a little closer to a new page in their history.
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