Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr has expressed intense frustration with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the standard of officiating at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The former Super Eagles manager voiced his grievances after the Cheetahs suffered a 1-0 loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo in their Group D opener on Tuesday. Rohr argued that match officials unfairly denied his side a clear penalty and suggested that the tournament’s organization has been insufficient.
The veteran tactician specifically targeted the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, questioning its reliability and application during the match. Théo Bongonda’s 16th-minute strike ultimately decided the game, but Rohr believes the outcome should have been different had the refereeing been more consistent. He further alleged that Benin’s status as a “smaller” footballing nation has led to a lack of respect from continental officials.
“I am very angry about the quality of refereeing at this AFCON,” Rohr told Osasu Obayiuwana after the match. “What is happening to the VAR? We were denied a penalty. Things are going crazy with CAF.”
The 71-year-old also highlighted a logistical failure, noting that a member of his technical staff was barred from scouting a match in Tangier despite the stadium being empty. According to Rohr, these collective issues undermine the integrity of the competition and complicate Benin’s mission to progress to the knockout stages. The Cheetahs must now prepare for a vital encounter against Botswana on Saturday as they attempt to salvage their campaign in Morocco.
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