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Benin national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Benin women's national football team.

The Benin national football team, nicknamed Les Écureuils (The Squirrels), is the national football team of Benin 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.[3] On May 9, 2016, Benin was suspended from FIFA.

Benin
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Les Écureuils
(The Squirrels)
AssociationBenin Football Federation
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachMichel Dussuyer
CaptainStéphane Sessègnon
Most capsStéphane Sessègnon (79)
Top scorerStéphane Sessègnon (23)
Home stadiumStade de l'Amitié
FIFA codeBEN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 83 Decrease 1 (19 September 2019)[1]
Highest59 (November–December 2009, April 2010)
Lowest165 (July 1996)
Elo ranking
Current 90 Increase 13 (13 September 2019)[2]
Highest56 (December 1964)
Lowest165 (13 May 1995)
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)

Competition recordsEdit

World Cup recordEdit

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 To be determined Qualification yet to start
      2026 To be determined Qualification yet to start
Total − 0/21 − − − − − − 39 9 7 23 34 81

Africa Cup of NationsEdit

Main article: Benin at the Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
  1957 Part of   France
  1959
  1962 Not affiliated to CAF
  1963
  1965 Did not enter
  1968
  1970
  1972 Did not qualify
  1974 Withdrew
  1976
  1978 Did not enter
  1980 Did not qualify
  1982 Did not enter
  1984 Did not qualify
  1986
  1988
  1990
  1992
  1994
  1996 Withdrew
  1998 Did not qualify
    2000
  2002
  2004 Group stage 16th 3 0 0 3 1 8
  2006 Did not qualify
  2008 Group stage 15th 3 0 0 3 1 7
  2010 Group stage 14th 3 0 1 2 2 5
    2012 Did not qualify
  2013
  2015
  2017
  2019 Quarter-finals 8th 5 0 4 1 3 4
  2021 To be determined
  2023
  2025
Total Quarter-finals 4/32 14 0 5 9 7 24

Results and fixturesEdit

  Win   Draw   Loss

2018Edit

2019Edit

2019 Africa Cup of NationsEdit

Main article: 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Group F
Pos Team
[ ]
 Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Ghana 3 1 2 0 4 2 +2 5 Advance to knockout stage
2   Cameroon 3 1 2 0 2 0 +2 5
3   Benin 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 3
4   Guinea-Bissau 3 0 1 2 0 4 −4 1
Source: CAF

PlayersEdit

Current squadEdit

The following players have been selected for the friendlies against Ivory Coast on 6 September 2019 and Algeria on 9 September 2019.[4]

Caps and goals correct as of 9 September 2019 after the game against Algeria.[5]

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Saturnin Allagbé (1993-11-22) 22 November 1993 (age 25) 19 0   Niort
1GK Chérif Dine Kakpo (1997-12-01) 1 December 1997 (age 21) 1 0   Buffles
1GK Marcel Dandjinou Uncertain 0 0   ESAE
2DF Khaled Adénon (1985-07-28) 28 July 1985 (age 34) 65 2   Amiens
2DF David Kiki (1993-11-25) 25 November 1993 (age 25) 23 0   Red Star
2DF Olivier Verdon (1995-10-05) 5 October 1995 (age 23) 19 0   Sochaux-Montbéliard
2DF Nabil Yarou (1993-06-16) 16 June 1993 (age 26) 9 1   Buffles
2DF Cédric Hountondji (1994-01-19) 19 January 1994 (age 25) 8 0   Clermont
2DF Youssouf Assogba Uncertain 2 0   USS Kraké
2DF Abdoul Ouorou (1997-07-18) 18 July 1997 (age 22) 1 0   JA Cotonou
2DF Maël Sedagondji (1999-08-23) 23 August 1999 (age 20) 0 0   Dijon 2
3MF Stéphane Sessègnon (Captain) (1984-06-01) 1 June 1984 (age 35) 79 23   Gençlerbirliği
3MF Séïbou Mama (1995-12-28) 28 December 1995 (age 23) 31 2   Toulon
3MF Jordan Adéoti (1989-03-12) 12 March 1989 (age 30) 31 0   Auxerre
3MF Sessi D'Almeida (1995-11-20) 20 November 1995 (age 23) 12 1   Yeovil Town
3MF Tidjani Anaane (1997-03-27) 27 March 1997 (age 22) 3 0   Ben Guerdane
3MF Rodrigue Kossi (2000-07-11) 11 July 2000 (age 19) 1 1   Club Africain
4FW Mickaël Poté (Vice-captain) (1984-09-24) 24 September 1984 (age 34) 55 9   Adana Demirspor
4FW Jodel Dossou (1992-03-17) 17 March 1992 (age 27) 31 1   Vaduz
4FW Steve Mounié (1994-09-29) 29 September 1994 (age 24) 22 6   Huddersfield Town
4FW Rudy Gestede (1988-10-10) 10 October 1988 (age 30) 11 3   Middlesbrough
4FW Cebio Soukou (1992-10-02) 2 October 1992 (age 26) 10 0   Hansa
4FW Yannick Aguemon (1992-02-11) 11 February 1992 (age 27) 2 0   OH Leuven

Recent call-upsEdit

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

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
DF Sheyi Damilola (1998-12-09) 9 December 1998 (age 20) 0 0   Unattached v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
GK Fabien Farnolle (1985-02-05) 5 February 1985 (age 34) 26 0   Malatyaspor 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
DF Gaston Houngbédji (1998-02-05) 5 February 1998 (age 21) 9 0   ASPAC v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
DF Nana Nafihou (1988-01-30) 30 January 1988 (age 31) 9 0   Gomido v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
DF Jean Ogounchi (1996-11-23) 23 November 1996 (age 22) 7 0   Tonnerre v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
DF Erick Akplogan (1992-05-17) 17 May 1992 (age 27) 0 0   Unattached v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
DF Séidou Barazé (1990-10-20) 20 October 1990 (age 28) 22 0   Yzeure 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
DF Junior Salomon (1986-04-08) 8 April 1986 (age 33) 21 0   Plateau United 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
DF Emmanuel Imorou (1988-09-16) 16 September 1988 (age 31) 17 0   Caen 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
DF Moïse Adilehou (1995-11-01) 1 November 1995 (age 23) 9 0   Levadiakos 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
DF Chams Deen Chaona (1996-10-24) 24 October 1996 (age 22) 2 0   Nejmeh v.   Gambia, 17 November 2018
MF Rodrigue Fassinou (1999-05-22) 22 May 1999 (age 20) 12 0   ASPAC v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
MF Waris Aboki (1997-07-20) 20 July 1997 (age 22) 8 1   ASPAC v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
MF Saliou Idrissou (1998-01-01) 1 January 1998 (age 21) 2 0   Panthères v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
MF Djibril Naïm Olatoundji (1995-12-29) 29 December 1995 (age 23) 2 0   ASVO v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
MF Patrick Sédjamè (1998-12-29) 29 December 1998 (age 20) 1 0   Buffles v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
MF Jérôme Agossa (1994-01-27) 27 January 1994 (age 25) 1 0   ASPAC v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
MF Djiman Koukou (1990-11-14) 14 November 1990 (age 28) 41 1   Lens v.   Gambia, 17 November 2018
MF Jean Marie Guéra (1996-12-22) 22 December 1996 (age 22) 0 0   Enyimba v.   Gambia, 17 November 2018
FW Friday Martins (1990-02-03) 3 February 1990 (age 29) 2 0   UPI-ONM v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
FW Saliou Allabani (2001-11-10) 10 November 2001 (age 17) 1 0   Dragons de l'Ouémé v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
FW Bio Chabi (2000-09-25) 25 September 2000 (age 18) 1 0   Soleil v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
FW Gilbert Adangnandé (1996-12-30) 30 December 1996 (age 22) 1 0   Énergie SBEÉ v.   Togo, 4 August 2019
FW David Djigla (1995-08-23) 23 August 1995 (age 24) 25 4   Niort 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
FW Segbé Azankpo (1993-05-06) 6 May 1993 (age 26) 6 0   FK Senica 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
FW Jacques Bessan (1993-09-15) 15 September 1993 (age 26) 9 1   Stade Tunisien v.   Togo, 24 March 2019
FW Marcellin Koukpo (1995-04-06) 6 April 1995 (age 24) 12 2   Hammam Lif v.   Gambia, 17 November 2018

DEC Player refused to join the team after the call-up.
INJ Player withdrew from the squad due to an injury.
PRE Preliminary squad.
RET Player has retired from international football.
SUS Suspended from the national team.

RecordsEdit

As of 13 September 2019
Players in bold text are still active with Benin.

List of Benin managersEdit

ReferencesEdit

  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 19 September 2019. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 13 September 2019. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  3. ^ Benin löst Nationalelf auf
  4. ^ http://www.beninfootball.com/ecureuils-houtondji-aguemon-gestede-de-retour-et-une-premiere-pour-mael-sedagondji
  5. ^ "Benin team of 2019". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams.
  6. ^ a b Mamrud, Roberto. "Benin – Record International Players". RSSSF. Retrieved 12 November 2017.

External linksEdit

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