AFCON 2025: Gernot Rohr, the man behind the reconstruction of Benin

Born in Mannheim, Gernot Rohr first enjoyed a solid career as a professional footballer, notably with Bayern Munich, Waldhof Mannheim, Kickers Offenbach and Girondins de Bordeaux . It was in 1990 that his career changed when he started his coaching career at Bordeaux.

There he meets talents that have become legends, such as Zinedine Zidane or Bixente Lizarazu, whom he accompanies until the final of the UEFA Cup 1996 against Bayern Munich. Many are the European benches that he occupies afterwards. US Créteil, OGC Nice, Young Boys de Berne, AC Ajaccio or even FC Nantes. Experiences that forge his reputation as a rigorous, calm and methodical coach.

His African adventure begins in Tunisia on the banks of the Sahel Star, before he takes over the leadership of Gabon from 2010 to 2012. He signs one of his first great achievements there by reaching the quarter-finals of the CAN 2012, which the country co-organized with Equatorial Guinea. Then followed by Niger (2012–2014) and a short visit to Burkina Faso in 2015. But it is especially with Nigeria, from 2016 to 2021, that Rohr makes history. He qualifies the Super Eagles for the 2018 World Cup and clinches third place at the 2019 edition. His Nigerian years give him a rare status: that of a foreign coach fully integrated into African football, respected for his knowledge of the field and his adaptability.

A builder for Benin

When Gernot Rohr arrives in Benin in February 2023, the Squirrels are coming out of two missed campaigns and an obvious sporting instability. His first mission is clear: to restructure the selection.
In a few months, he puts in place a collective discipline, redefines the roles, modernizes physical preparation and installs coherent game principles. The result is immediate.

Benin qualifies for the AFCON 2025 after heats in Pool D with Nigeria, Rwanda and Libya. With 8 points, the Beninese finish level with Rwanda, but pass thanks to a better goal difference. Rohr’s men have two wins, two draws and two defeats. A modest record but enough to reconnect with the continental scene. For a country undergoing reconstruction, this qualification is already a success. For Rohr, it is only the beginning.

A pragmatic style, demanding and adapted to adversity

Gernot Rohr is not an ideologist. He does not force a system, he builds a context. If he likes 4-2-3-1, a device that balances defensive coverage and offensive creativity, he reminds us that his approach always depends on the opponent: "There is no style for every match."

This pragmatism is based on constant fundamentals: a united, combative, disciplined and determined team. Rohr insists on sacrifice for the group, rigor, efficiency, and mental strength. Benin under Rohr is not the most spectacular formation, but it is organized, difficult to destabilize, and creative enough to surprise on transitions. With a young, still irregular but promising group, the Franco-German technician is committed to building a culture of performance more than a fixed system. It is there, perhaps, its greatest strength.

A competition that he knows well

The 2025 AFCON in Morocco will not be a discovery for him. With Gabon, he had already reached the quarter-finals in 2012. With Nigeria, he had won a bronze medal in 2019, after a controlled competition where the Super Eagles had regained a form of historic efficiency. This experience makes him one of the most seasoned technicians in the tournament.
An experience that Benin will need, because the squirrels will evolve in Group D, along with Senegal, DR Congo and Botswana. A raised group where each point will be won in contrition and discipline.

The challenge of a builder: to exist among giants
At 71 years old, Gernot Rohr no longer runs behind the spotlight. He is looking for something else like meaning in construction. With Benin, he finds a territory of mission, the one where he excels the most. Revive, structure, raise the level of a collective.

Qualification for AFCON 2025 marks a first step. The competition itself will be a full-scale test. Rohr never promised miracles. He promised work. And this work is starting to pay off. For Benin, this edition is an opportunity to affirm its return to the big stage.
For Gernot Rohr, it may be the last chance to show once again why he remains one of the most respected coaches on the continent.