Gernot Rohr Raises Concerns Over Structural Imbalances at AFCON 2025

Former coach of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team Gernot Rohr has suggested that host nation Morocco, Nigeria, and other traditional heavyweights have benefited from structural advantages at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations.

The Franco-German tactician, whose Benin Republic side were eliminated by Egypt in the round of 16, voiced his concerns while reflecting on the competitiveness and organisation of the tournament.

Responding to Morocco coach Walid Regragui’s assertion that the current edition is “the most difficult AFCON to win,” Rohr agreed—but with notable reservations.

Rohr acknowledged the strong performances of lesser-fancied teams, even those that failed to reach the quarter-finals.

“Yes, because the smaller teams, even if they didn’t qualify for the quarter-finals, performed well. It’s not easy for the big teams,” he said.

However, he argued that this competitiveness is undermined by organisational factors that favour established nations.

The former Nigerian coach pointed to disparities in scheduling and logistics as a major issue.

“They benefit from playing four games in the same stadium, while we have had to experience four different stadiums, along with the associated travel,” Rohr noted, describing the situation as a significant disadvantage in a physically demanding competition.

Rohr also raised concerns about officiating standards, particularly the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.

“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,” he said.

While stopping short of making direct accusations, Rohr suggested that the overall structure of the tournament has worked in favour of the continent’s biggest footballing nations.

“It seems that the big nations are fully taking advantage of the benefits they have to qualify,” he concluded.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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