2025 AFCON: Rohr Highlights Imbalances, Advantages For Morocco, Nigeria, Others

2025 AFCON: Rohr Highlights Imbalances, Advantages For Morocco, Nigeria, Others

Ibrahim Lateef

Gernot Rohr has pointed out how top teams like the host nation, Morocco, Nigeria, and other leading teams have benefited in the ongoing African Cup of Nations, according to reports from BSNSports.com.ng.

The Franco-German coach, whose Benin Cheetahs were eliminated by Egypt in the Round of 16, expressed his concerns about what he perceives as structural imbalances within the tournament.

When asked by Mega Sports about Walid Regragui's claim that this edition would be "the most difficult AFCON to win," Rohr agreed but qualified his statement significantly.

Small Teams Are Competitive, But Not Favored. 

Rohr noted that the difficulty of this AFCON not only stems from the high level of competition but also from the conditions under which some teams are playing.

 "Yes, because the smaller teams, even if they didn't qualify for the quarterfinals, performed well. It's not easy for the big teams," he acknowledged. However, the Benin coach believes that this competitiveness is offset by organizational advantages favoring the major nations.

 Concerns About Schedule, Travel, and Refereeing. 

Gernot Rohr specifically highlighted the differences in treatment between the major teams and their smaller counterparts.

"They benefit from playing four games in the same stadium, while we have had to experience four different stadiums, along with the associated travel."

He considers this a logistical disadvantage, especially in such a physically demanding competition.

Furthermore, the coach of the Cheetahs raised concerns about issues related to refereeing and video assistance. 

"Sometimes there are incomprehensible VAR failures, and there are also interpretations that are either not checked at all, which is really surprising. It's a shame."

Without directly accusing anyone, Rohr expressed a sense of unfairness in the overall management of the tournament:

 "It seems that the big nations are fully taking advantage of the benefits they have to qualify."