Gernot Rohr lists three players Finidi George missed in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifiers

Nigeria's 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign is all over the place after four games.

They are yet to register a win, and their defeat to the Benin Republic earlier this month left them second from bottom in Group C.

Benin coach and former Super Eagles boss, Gernot Rohr, recently said his former team missed several key players in their last two matches.

Under Jose Peseiro, Nigeria failed to beat lower-ranked teams, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, but a superb African Cup of Nations campaign managed only to paper over the cracks.

After Peseiro left, Finidi George was appointed with high expectations. However, the trust appears to be gone after a few months on the job.

His team were held to a draw by South Africa in Uyo and, days later, suffered a painful defeat to Rohr's Benin in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, prompting his apparent resignation.

Nigeria have six matches left in the qualifiers, and with their talent, they can't afford to miss a second straight FIFA World Cup.

Which players did Nigeria miss?

The most notable absentee in Nigeria's qualifiers against South Africa was African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced he would miss the qualifiers due to injury.

The 25-year-old striker's last match for Nigeria was the 2023 AFCON final against Ivory Coast on February 11.

Rohr said the Super Eagles missed Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, and Moses Simon, regulars on the national team.

"It was difficult for them without Osimhen, Ekong, and Moses Simon. It’s a good team Finidi has, and perhaps missing the very best players and Osimhen also, he can have some explanations for the defeat," he said via Soccernet.

However, Rohr believes Nigeria still have a chance of reaching the World Cup.

"The group is still open, that’s true, and only four points separate us with six games to play. It’s possible that in all the last games, there can be a decision in Uyo when we play Nigeria. It could be a final because the Super Eagles will come back."

Nigeria face Benin in the second leg in October 2025.