'He used to be my coach' - Troost-Ekong admits Cheetahs boss Rohr has the Super Eagles playbook

Speaking ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers with Benin at the Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny tomorrow, William Troost-Ekong acknowledged that Gernot Rohr is familiar with the Super Eagles squad.

The German tactician was in charge of the three-time Africa Cup of Nations for five years and was in the dugout for 54 matches, winning 27, drawing 13 and losing 14.

He led the country to a third-place finish at the 2019 AFCON and was in charge during the 2018 Fifa World Cup, where they exited at the group stage, having won one game.

Rohr left his position in 2021 and after being jobless for two years, he was hired as the technical adviser of Benin in 2023 and has faced the Super Eagles twice, winning one and losing the other.

Speaking at the pre-match conference ahead of tomorrow's game, Troost-Ekong admitted to the fact that the German-born tactician is not unfamiliar with the players of the 2013 African champions.

“We won at home the last game we played against Benin, we know Benin is a good team. Gernot Rohr used to be my coach with the national team previously for over years. Like the coach said, he knows the team very well," Troost-Ekong said at the pre-match press conference.

"I've played against Benin several times, it has always been a difficult game but I think here, especially in this stadium, where we have some amazing memories from earlier this year, we'll be very ready.

"All the conditions are here for us. We feel at home in Abidjan and I'm confident that we can do the job and qualify by winning tomorrow, and that's what we are gong to have to do.

"We all know it's going to be a difficult game so we have to bring our best. From what I've seen so far in training and the spirit in the camp, we look very ready for the game tomorrow."

"The stadium gives us confidence, we felt at home here. The Ivorian fans probably will be our side because we made it very difficult for them but in the end they went away happy.

"Hopefully, we'll have that same support again and the conditions are perfect for us. We've been training well, and we are looking forward to the game tomorrow.

"It's always a very beautiful memory and I want to add to that tomorrow and have another winning game here."

Troost-Ekong also featured prominently under Rohr, while Ola Aina, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi, Moses Simon, Frank Onyeka, Samuel Chukwueze and Kelechi Iheanacho are the other players in camp to have played under him.

Abdulkareem Abdulhamid

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