Former Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has attributed Nigeria's 2-1 defeat to Benin Republic in last month's FIFA World Cup qualifiers to the absence of Victor Osimhen, William Troost-Ekong, and Moses Simon.

The Super Eagles struggled in the qualifiers, losing 2-1 to Benin Republic and drawing 1-1 with South Africa in Uyo.

Despite their poor form, Rohr believes Nigeria remains the favorite to top their group in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, which also includes Libya and Rwanda.

Rohr, the longest-serving Super Eagles coach, praised the team's quality players, saying, "They have players who can decide the game in their favor, making them a hard team to beat."

He attributed the team's struggles to the absence of key players, "The missing trio of Moses Simon, Victor Osimhen, and William Troost-Ekong didn't help them. They can make the difference with their determination, passion, and desire, which pushes the team a lot."