After German Bruno Labbadia decided against taking over because the Nigeria Football Federation would not pay his tax bill, he was a late substitute.
Former Bundesliga manager Labbadia was supposed to take on fellow countryman Gernot Rohr, who three months prior had orchestrated Benin’s 2-1 triumph over Nigeria in a 2026 World Cup qualifying match.
The Benin Cheetahs stunned opponents by coming from behind and scoring goals from Steve Mounie and Jodel Dossou, who are ranked 52 spots higher in the world.
For 71-year-old Rohr, the victory was especially satisfying because he led Nigeria for five years until being fired due to growing public criticism after underwhelming outcomes.