The head coach of the senior national team of Benin Republic Gernot Rohr says the Super Eagles will not be at full strength without Semi Ajayi just like his team will be without key center back Cédric Hountondji when both teams meet in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Benin Republic will head into the game with a crisis in defence, but Rohr who is keen on his team avoiding defeat before their last game in the series against Libya insist that even Nigeria won’t be at full strength without Ajayi.
Ajayi who plays for English Championship side West Brom will miss the game due to injury, and according to Rohr who rates the 31 year old as the most improved player since he handed him his debut with his performance at the AFCON his absence will be felt by the Super Eagles.
” Nigeria will be without Ajayi. A very good player like we saw at the AFCON when he combines with Ekong. Their partnership helped the team get to the final of the AFCON so I believe he will be missed for what he brings to the team”, Rohr said while speaking ahead of the game on Thursday.
He however said although Nigeria have other options, Ajayi’s absence will still be a huge miss for Nigeria because he has been a part of the team for the past two years. ” Nigeria have other options unlike us but Ajayi has been there for two years so you don’t expect it to be the same without him”, he concluded.
