Benin national football team

The Benin national football team, (French: Équipe nationale de Football du Benin) nicknamed Les Écureuils (The Squirrels), represents Benin in men's international association football and is controlled by the Benin Football Federation. They were known as the Dahomey national football team until 1975, when Republic of Dahomey became Benin. They have never qualified for the World Cup, but have reached four African Nations Cup in recent years, never placing in the top 2 in the group stage – 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2019. In 2019, they reached the knockouts as the third most successful third place team, before making the quarter-finals with a shock win over Morocco, but later lost to Senegal. On 8 February 2010 after the preliminary competition from the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, the Benin Football Federation dissolved the national team, coach Henri Dussuyer and his complete staff were fired.[2] On May 9, 2016, Benin was suspended from FIFA, The team represents both FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF).

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Benin women's national football team.
Benin
Nickname(s)Les Écureuils
(The Squirrels)
AssociationBenin Football Federation
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachMichel Dussuyer
CaptainKhaled Adénon
Most capsStéphane Sessègnon (83)
Top scorerStéphane Sessègnon (24)
Home stadiumStade de l'Amitié
FIFA codeBEN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 84 1 (31 March 2022)[1]
Highest59 (November–December 2009, April 2010)
Lowest165 (July 1996)
First international
 Dahomey 0–1 Nigeria 
(Dahomey; 8 November 1959)
Biggest win
 Dahomey 7–0 Mauritania 
(Abidjan, Ivory Coast; 27 December 1961)
Biggest defeat
 Nigeria 10–1 Dahomey 
(Nigeria; 28 November 1959)
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances4 (first in 2004)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2019)

History

The beginnings

Benin's first official game was played at home against Nigeria on November 8, 1959 and resulted in a 1-0 loss. The match was played while the country was still a dependent of France, prior to its independence on 1st August 1960. Benin has been affiliated with FIFA since 1962 and has been a member of the Confederation of African Football since 1969.

2004–2010

Benin qualified for the first time in its history for the final phase of the African Cup of Nations in 2004. The Beninese were eliminated in the first round, after losing three times (against South Africa, Morocco and Nigeria). Against Nigeria, Moussa Latoundji scored his country's first goal in a CAN finals.

In 2008, Benin qualified for the second CAN in its history. Benin was again eliminated in the first round having lost all three matches (against Mali, Ivory Coast and Nigeria). Benin scored only one goal during the tournament during its 4-1 defeat against Ivory Coast, scored by Razak Omotoyossi.

In 2010, Benin's football championship was suspended after the Benin Football Federation's president, Anjorin Moucharaf arrested. Members of the BFF decried the imprisonment, saying that Moucharaf had been unjustly accused of fraud, leading to 12 of the 15 board members resigning in protest.[3]

During the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Benin finished at the top of their group in the second round. Benin had started with a defeat in Angola but went on to win the next four matches and ensure their qualification before the final day. In the third round of the qualifiers, Benin finished second in their group, three points behind Ghana. Despite not qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Benin's second place finish ensured their participation in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, where Benin drew against Mozambique to win the first point in its history at the CAN. Benin then lost their other two matches against Nigeria and Egypt to finish third in the group and fail to progress to the next round.

2012–present

In the second round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Benin was placed in Group H with Algeria, Mali and Rwanda. Benin finished third in this group where only the first qualified for the third round of qualifying.

Results and fixtures

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss

2021
15 June 2021 AFCON qualification Sierra Leone  1–0  Benin Conakry, Guinea
16:00 UTC±0
  • K. Kamara 19' (pen.)
 Report Stadium: Stade du 28 Septembre
Referee: Haythem Guirat (Tunisia)
2 September 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Madagascar  0-1  Benin Antananarivo, Madagascar
Report
Stadium: Mahamasina Municipal Stadium
6 September 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Benin  1–1  DR Congo Cotonou, Benin
Stadium: Stade de l'Amitié
7 October 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Tanzania  0–1  Benin Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
16:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: National Stadium
Referee: Celso Alvação (Mozambique)
10 October 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Benin  0–1  Tanzania Cotonou, Benin
14:00 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Stade de l'Amitié
Referee: Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia)
11 November 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification Benin  2–0  Madagascar Cotonou
17:00 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Stade de l'Amitié
Referee: Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
14 November 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification DR Congo  2–0  Benin Kinshasa
14:00 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Stade des Martyrs
Referee: Eric Otogo-Castane (Gabon)

2022
24 March Friendly Liberia  0–4  Benin Antalya, Turkey
Report
Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
27 March Friendly Zambia  1–2  Benin Antalya, Turkey
 Report
Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
Referee: Batuhan Kolak (Turkey)
29 March Friendly Togo  1–1  Benin Turkey

Coaching history

Players

Current squad

The following players were called up for the friendlies against Liberia, Zambia and Togo on 24, 27 and 29 March 2022.[4]

Caps and goals correct as of 29 March 2022, after the match against Togo.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Saturnin Allagbé (1993-11-22) 22 November 1993 34 0 Valenciennes
1GK Marcel Dandjinou (1998-06-25) 25 June 1998 2 0 JDR Stars
1GK Guillaume Agbégninou (1999-12-26) 26 December 1999 0 0 ASVO
2DF Khaled Adénon (1985-07-28) 28 July 1985 79 2 Doxa Katokopias
2DF David Kiki (1993-11-25) 25 November 1993 35 0 Arda Kardzhali
2DF Olivier Verdon (1995-10-05) 5 October 1995 27 0 Ludogorets Razgrad
2DF Youssouf Assogba (2001-08-21) 21 August 2001 15 0 Jönköping
2DF Moïse Adiléhou (1995-11-01) 1 November 1995 14 1 NAC Breda
2DF Melvyn Doremus (1996-10-29) 29 October 1996 9 0 FC Chambly
2DF Yohan Roche (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 8 1 Adanaspor
2DF Mohamed Tijani (1997-07-10) 10 July 1997 0 0 Teplice
3MF Sessi D'Almeida (1995-11-20) 20 November 1995 23 1 Tondela
3MF Rodrigue Kossi (2000-07-11) 11 July 2000 9 0 Club Africain
3MF Mattéo Ahlinvi (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 9 0 Dijon
3MF Junior Olaitan (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 8 0 Niort
4FW Jodel Dossou (1992-03-17) 17 March 1992 48 7 Clermont
4FW Steve Mounié (1994-09-29) 29 September 1994 40 13 Brest
4FW Cebio Soukou (1992-10-02) 2 October 1992 20 4 SV Sandhausen
4FW Marcellin Koukpo (1995-04-06) 6 April 1995 17 2 CS Constantine
4FW Tidjani Anaane (1997-03-27) 27 March 1997 10 0 Menemenspor
4FW Tosin Aiyegun (1998-06-28) 28 June 1998 3 2 Zürich
4FW Roland Béakou (2001-08-20) 20 August 2001 1 0 Loto-Popo
4FW Angel Chibozo (2003-07-01) 1 July 2003 1 0 Juventus Primavera

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for Benin in the last 12 months.[5]

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Chérif Dine Akakpo (1997-12-01) 1 December 1997 2 0 Les Buffles v.  Zambia, 8 June 2021
DF Cédric Hountondji (1994-01-19) 19 January 1994 18 0 Clermont v.  DR Congo, 14 November 2021
DF Djalilou Ouorou (1997-07-18) 18 July 1997 3 0 Les Buffles v.  DR Congo, 14 November 2021
DF Abdou Bourou (2000-10-13) 13 October 2000 1 0 ASKO Kara v.  DR Congo, 14 November 2021
MF Jordan Adéoti (1989-03-12) 12 March 1989 43 1 Annecy v.  DR Congo, 14 November 2021
MF Jérôme Bonou (1994-01-27) 27 January 1994 6 0 Djoliba v.  DR Congo, 14 November 2021
MF Djiman Koukou (1990-11-14) 14 November 1990 42 1 Les Herbiers VF v.  Sierra Leone, 15 June 2021
FW Mickaël Poté (1984-09-24) 24 September 1984 67 10 Bandırmaspor v.  DR Congo, 14 November 2021
FW Désiré Segbé Azankpo (1993-05-06) 6 May 1993 14 0 Dunkerque v.  DR Congo, 14 November 2021
FW Charbel Gomez (2001-01-27) 27 January 2001 16 0 Amiens v.  DR Congo, 14 November 2021

Player records
As of 29 March 2022[6]
Players in bold are still active with Benin.

Competitive records

World Cup record
FIFA World Cup record FIFA World Cup Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
1930 to 1970 Did not enter Did not enter
1974 Did not qualify 3 0 0 3 1 10
1978 to 1982 Did not enter Did not enter
1986 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 6
1990 Did not enter Did not enter
1994 Did not qualify 6 1 0 5 3 19
1998 Did not enter Did not enter
2002 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 2
2006 12 2 3 7 13 26
2010 6 3 1 2 6 6
2014 6 2 2 2 8 9
2018 2 1 0 1 2 3
2022 6 3 1 2 5 4
2026 To be determined Qualification yet to start
Total − 0/23 − − − − − − 45 12 8 25 39 85

Africa Cup of Nations
Main article: Benin at the Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1957Part of  France
1959
1962Not affiliated to CAF
1963
1965Did not enter
1968
1970
1972Did not qualify
1974Withdrew
1976
1978Did not enter
1980Did not qualify
1982Did not enter
1984Did not qualify
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996Withdrew
1998Did not qualify
2000
2002
2004Group stage16th300318
2006Did not qualify
2008Group stage15th300317
2010Group stage14th301225
2012Did not qualify
2013
2015
2017
2019Quarter-finals8th504134
2021Did not qualify
2023To be determined
2025
Total Quarter-finals 4/33 14 0 5 9 7 24

References
  1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. Benin löst Nationalelf auf
  3. Kobo, Kingsley. "Fifa back detained Benin FA boss Anjorin Moucharaf". Goal.
  4. "La Liste". Facebook. Écureuils du Bénin. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  5. "Bénin – Zambie : Trois joueurs appelés en remplacement des blessés avec Désiré Sègbè Azankpo!" (in French). Retrieved 6 October 2019.
  6. Mamrud, Roberto. "Benin – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
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