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African Cup of Nations 2010: Benin Team Guide

After making it to their second consecutive African Cup of Nations thanks to some strong performances in qualification, Benin will be looking to cause a shock at the 2010 tournament.

Whilst there may be other African nations that are developing faster in terms of their football performance, there is no denying that Benin also fall into the category of improvers. After failing to make any African Cup of Nations finals until 2004 after a combination of either failing to qualify or withdrawing, the Squirrels have now made it to three of the last four events.

Although Benin will rank as outsiders for the 2010 tournament in Angola, their recent results indicate they should not be dismissed lightly, as Angola and Ghana found out to their cost in recent qualification matches. Benin topped their opening group thanks to strong performances at home, winning all three matches, including a 3-0 win over Angola, which barred one of Africa’s representatives at the 2006 FIFA World Cup entry to the second round qualifying for this year’s competition.

The second group stage pitched Benin with significantly stronger opposition, but for the first time in recent years, they showed that they have the ability to at least cause some of the continents big hitters one or two headaches. They overcame a relatively strong Ghana side 1-0 thanks to a late goal, and held Mali to a draw at home, eventually coming second in the group to assure themselves a position at 2010 African Cup of Nations.

Improvement

Many of the recent encouraging results have been accrued under current French coach Michel Dussuyer, a goalkeeper with Cannes and Nice before becoming trainer first with Guinea, and later with his old club Cannes. Dusseyer has overseen a significant improvement in the FIFA ranking since taking over the post in June 2008 continuing a largely upward trend in the recent four years to a current high of 59th position.

Although qualification for a World Cup remains a long way off, the next step is to improve on
performances at the African Cup of Nations. In their six previous matches they’ve contested during the Group Stages of the tournament, Benin are yet to register a point. In 2004 they did manage a late consolation in their final match against Nigeria, and in 2008 they managed that again with another late goal in a 4-1 defeat to the Ivory Coast, but even a draw has eluded them in terms of outright results.

However, the significant improvement in recent qualifying suggests that performance at the 2010 African Cup of Nations will be much better, and Benin might even consider themselves outside challengers for a place in the quarter finals.

Drawn into Group C Egypt and Nigeria will rank as the favourites, but even if Benin can’t trouble those two big names, a win against Mozambique, another of Africa’s improvers, certainly isn’t out of the question. With a squad drawn from predominately lower-league French based players, some under contract to other European based clubs and a mixture of some still playing in Africa, the Squirrels are still relatively unknown in Western European football circles. However, if they continue to improve in the fashion they have been, there is every chance that a few could be heading to bigger clubs.

Squad

Goalkeepers � Yoann Dijdonou (Libourne), Rachad Chitou (Wikki Tourists), Valere Amoussou (AS Porto-Novo)

Defenders � Khaled Adenon (Bastia), Mouftaou Adou (Aspac), Romouald Boco (Sligo Rovers), Damien Chyrosostome (Denizlispor), Emmanuel Imorou (Guegnon), Reda Johnson (Plymouth Argyle) Junior Salomon (Aspac), Felicien Singbo (Lokomotiv Plovdiv)

Midfielders � Gerard Adanhoume (FC Soleil), Jocelyn Ahoueya (FC Sion), Dijman Koukou (Evian TG), Seidath Tchomogo (East Riffa), Pascal Angan (Wydad Casablanca), Mouritala Ogunbiyi (Guingamp), Arnaud Seka (Tonnerre d’Abomey), Stephane Sessegnon (Paris Saint-Germain)

Attackers � Mohamed Aoudou (Evian TG), Nouhoum Kobena (Almadina), Razak Omotoyossi (Metz), Mickael Pote (Nice)

Players to Watch

The star of the team is PSG’s Stephane Sessegnon, an attacking midfielder with the eye for the flamboyant. Nominated for the French Player of the Year Award in 2008 after scoring six goals and setting up a further eight, Sessegnon needs to now help Benin mature as a football side. With just two goals in 23 caps for his country, there is undoubtedly room for improvement, but with the like of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all linked with the player in the past, the �15 million rated attacker could well use the tournament in Angola to shine.

Pascal Angan is another of Benin’s gems in the midfield. Yet to play in Europe, Angan played his career in the Ivory Coast until an offer from Morocco’s WAC Casablanca was received, and he moved to North Africa in the summer of 2008. It hasn’t taken him long to settle in, helping his side to the finals of the Arab Champions League and impressing through the middle or from the right flank.

Fixtures

12th Jan � Mozambique

16th Jan � Nigeria

20th Jan � Egypt

Prediction

Anything other than an early exit home would rank as a surprise. Nevertheless the experience of playing two of Africa’s strongest teams will be nothing other than beneficial to Benin, who will harbour hopes that they can at least claim a victory in their opening match against Mozambique to use as a platform to put pressure on the big-boys in the section.

Posted by Walter Townsend on Wednesday, 6th January 2010

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