Head coach of Benin Republic, Gernot Rohr, has advised two players of Nigerian descent to put aside their ties to Nigeria on Saturday when they face the Super Eagles in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifiers in Uyo.
Rohr has selected Lorient’s Lagos-born striker Tosin Aiyegun and Grenoble Foot 38’s Junior Olaitan in his squad list to tackle Nigeria.
Olaitan was born in Porto-Novo to a Beninese mother and a Nigerian father.
The 31-year-old forward was eligible to represent the Super Eagles but opted to commit his international future to the Cheetahs despite growing up in Lagos, Nigeria.
Aiyegun, on his part, was scouted by Rohr with a view to a call-up to the Super Eagles but the invitation never came before he was sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in 2021.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Rohr said: “We have some players who are born in Nigeria. It’s a neighboring country so they also speak Yoruba. They have to forget they are also a little bit Nigerian.
“They are now playing for Benin and they will give the best for their country and I think they will be able to have perhaps a special motivation to show that they also could have a chance to play for Nigeria.
“I hope there will not be any problem for them.”
