Benin Republic head coach, Gernot Rohr, has expressed disappointment with the absence of some of his key players for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Nigeria and Libya.

Rohr will be without the quartet of Cedric Hountondji, Olivier Verdon, Matteo Ahlinvi and David Kiki for the crucial games.

The German is, however, upbeat that his team will cope with the absence of the key players.

“We are missing key players, but we will do without them. In the axis, we would have liked to have Cedric and Olivier with us, but they are not here,” Rohr was quoted by Joueurs Beninois.

The Cheetahs currently occupy second position on the Group B table with six points from four games.

They will host the Super Eagles in a West African derby at the Felix Houphet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, on Thursday.

Benin Republic’s last qualifying game against Libya will hold four days later.

AFCON 2025Q: Rohr rues of absence of key players for Super Eagles clash