The coach of Benin Republic, Gernot Rohr, has revealed his message to the players after they climbed to the top of the Group C of the African qualifying series of the 2026 World Cup.

The Benin Republic Cheetahs are now top of the Group C following the decision of the world football governing body, FIFA, to deduct three points from South Africa for fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their match against Lesotho

Rohr said he has sent out messages and reached out to some of them on telephone to tell them to remain focused.


There are still two more matches to go in the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda and Nigeria.

Rohr, a former Super Eagles manager, said his players must not be carried out or think that they are already at the World Cup.

In quotes relayed by Société de radio et de télévision du Bénin’s website, Rohr said, “We want to do the best we can.

“But for those who think we’re already at the World Cup because we happen to be first, we shouldn’t get too excited; it’s pointless.

“I wrote this to my players. I told some of them on the phone. But we have to do everything we can to live up to the first place we’ve been given.”

The Cheetahs and Bafana Bafana are level on fourteen points ahead of the final round of games and are three points better than Nigeria who will face Lesotho on October 10 and Rohr’s men four days later.