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Benin national football team

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Benin
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Les Guépards
(The Cheetahs)
Formerly: Les Ecureuils (The Squirrels)
AssociationBenin Football Federation
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachGernot Rohr
CaptainSteve Mounié
Most capsStéphane Sessègnon (89)
Top scorerStéphane Sessègnon (24)
Home stadiumStade de l'Amitié
FIFA codeBEN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 95 Decrease 6 (24 October 2024)[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)

The Benin national football team (French: Équipe nationale de Football du Benin), nicknamed Les Guépards (The Cheetahs), represents Benin in men's international association football and are controlled by the Benin Football Federation. They were known as Dahomey until 1975, when the Republic of Dahomey became Benin.

Benin have been affiliated with FIFA since 1962 and are a member of the Confederation of African Football since 1969. They have never qualified for the World Cup, but have participated at four Africa Cups of Nations in 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2019, never placing in the top two in the group stage at all of these occasions. However, Benin has a unique record as the country is the first national team to reach the quarter-finals of an AFCON edition without gaining a single win in their AFCON history.

History

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Benin hosted its first official international match on 8 November 1959, a 1–0 loss to Nigeria. The match was played while the country was still a French dependency, prior to its independence on 1 August 1960.

Benin qualified for the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, their first AFCON in history. However, they lost all three matches to South Africa, Morocco and again Nigeria. Benin's only goal was scored by Moussa Latoundji against Nigeria.

History repeated itself again in 2008, when Benin lost to Mali, the Ivory Coast and yet again Nigeria. They also scored only once through Razak Omotoyossi in the 4–1 defeat to the Ivory Coast.

In 2010, the Benin Football Federation's president Anjorin Moucharaf was 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]

In the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Benin topped their group in the second round. They started with a defeat to 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 qualification to the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, where they drew against Mozambique to receive their first ever point at the AFCON. The Squirrels then lost their other two matches against Nigeria and defending champions Egypt to finish third in their group and fail to progress to the next round. After this performance, on 8 February 2010, the BFF, not willing to accept a group stage exit for the third time in a row, dissolved the national team and sacked coach Michel Dussuyer, as well as the rest of his staff.[4][5] Dussuyer was unaware that he had been sacked and claimed that he had not done anything wrong.[6] The team became an innocent victim of enraged African countries failing to accept defeat at major tournaments and disbanding their national teams in the early 2010s, along with Nigeria, the team that Benin have met in the group stage of all three of their AFCONs before their disbandment, which were suspended for two years by President Goodluck Jonathan after the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

In the second round of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, Benin were placed in Group H with Algeria, Mali and Rwanda. They finished third in their group, failing to advance to the next round.

On 9 May 2016, FIFA suspended Benin for unknown reasons.

At the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, despite advancing only as the third-best third-placed team, Benin, reunited with Dussuyer, reached the quarter-finals, where they lost to eventual runners-up Senegal, with a shock win over tournament favourites Morocco on penalties.

Results and fixtures

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

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

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17 October Friendly Madagascar  2–1  Benin Casablanca, Morocco
16:00 UTC+1 Stadium: Larbi Zaouli Stadium
18 November 2026 World Cup qualification South Africa  2–1  Benin Durban, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2
  • Tau 2'
  • Mudau 45+2'
Report
Stadium: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Referee: Mahmood Ismail (Sudan)
21 November 2026 World Cup qualification Lesotho  0–0  Benin Johannesburg, South Africa
15:00 UTC+2 Report Stadium: Orlando Stadium
Attendance: 1,000
Referee: Tsegay Mogos Teklu (Eritrea)

2024

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23 March Friendly Ivory Coast  2–2  Benin Amiens, France
17:00 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Stade de la Licorne
26 March Friendly Senegal  1–0  Benin Amiens, France
20:30 UTC+1 Stadium: Stade de la Licorne
6 June 2026 World Cup qualification Benin  1–0  Rwanda Abidjan, Ivory Coast
19:00 UTC±0
Report Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Attendance: 3,600
Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
10 June 2026 World Cup qualification Benin  2–1  Nigeria Abidjan, Ivory Coast
16:00 UTC±0
Report Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
7 September 2025 AFCON qualification Nigeria  3–0  Benin Uyo, Nigeria
17:00 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Godswill Akpabio International Stadium
Referee: Alamin Alhadi Mohamed (Sudan)
10 September 2025 AFCON qualification Benin  2–1  Libya Abidjan, Ivory Coast
19:00 UTC±0
Report
Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Referee: Abdel Aziz Bouh (Mauritania)
11 October 2025 AFCON qualification Benin  3–0  Rwanda Abidjan, Ivory Coast
16:00 UTC±0 Report Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Referee: Lyes Bekouassa (Algeria)
15 October 2025 AFCON qualification Rwanda  2–1  Benin Kigali, Rwanda
18:00 UTC+2 Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar)
25 October 2024 (2024-10-25) 2024 African Nations Championship qualification Togo  2–0  Benin
1 November 2024 (2024-11-01) 2024 African Nations Championship qualification Benin  v  Togo

Coaching history

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Players

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Current squad

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The following players were called up for the 2025 AFCON qualification matches against Rwanda on 11 and 15 October 2024.[7]

Caps and goals correct as of 15 October 2024, after the match against Rwanda

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1GK Saturnin Allagbé (1993-11-22) 22 November 1993 (age 30) 46 0 Bulgaria Botev Vratsa
1GK Marcel Dandjinou (1998-06-25) 25 June 1998 (age 26) 10 0 South Africa JDR Stars
1GK Mariano Tchinonvi (2004-07-29) 29 July 2004 (age 20) 0 0 Benin Loto-Popo

2DF Olivier Verdon (1995-10-05) 5 October 1995 (age 29) 38 0 Bulgaria Ludogorets Razgrad
2DF Cédric Hountondji (1994-01-19) 19 January 1994 (age 30) 32 2 France Angers
2DF Rodrigue Fassinou (1999-05-22) 22 May 1999 (age 25) 16 0 Benin Loto-Popo
2DF Rachid Moumini (2004-10-27) 27 October 2004 (age 20) 14 1 Benin Ayema
2DF Yohan Roche (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 (age 27) 14 1 Romania Petrolul Ploiești
2DF Mohamed Tijani (1997-07-10) 10 July 1997 (age 27) 13 0 Switzerland Yverdon-Sport
2DF Rabiou Sankamao (2003-10-12) 12 October 2003 (age 21) 3 0 Benin ASPAC
2DF Tamimou Ouorou (2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 (age 21) 1 0 United Arab Emirates Hatta Club

3MF Sessi D'Almeida (1995-11-20) 20 November 1995 (age 28) 38 1 Cyprus Apollon Limassol
3MF Junior Olaitan (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 (age 22) 28 4 France Troyes
3MF Mattéo Ahlinvi (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 (age 25) 24 0 Sweden Västerås SK
3MF Dodo Dokou (2004-05-04) 4 May 2004 (age 20) 14 1 Egypt Smouha
3MF Hassane Imourane (2003-04-08) 8 April 2003 (age 21) 13 1 Egypt Modern Future
3MF Mariano Ahouangbo (2002-11-16) 16 November 2002 (age 21) 3 0 Tunisia AS Soliman
3MF Gislain Ahoudo (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 (age 25) 3 0 Benin Dadjè FC d'Aplahoué
3MF Romaric Amoussou (2000-12-10) 10 December 2000 (age 23) 3 0 Cameroon Coton Sport
3MF Samadou Attidjikou (2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 20) 0 0 Egypt Al Masry

4FW Jodel Dossou (1992-03-17) 17 March 1992 (age 32) 67 10 France Sochaux
4FW Steve Mounié (1994-09-29) 29 September 1994 (age 30) 57 19 Germany Augsburg
4FW Tosin Aiyegun (1998-06-26) 26 June 1998 (age 26) 16 3 France Lorient
4FW Andréas Hountondji (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 22) 11 2 England Burnley
4FW Steve Traoré (1998-02-18) 18 February 1998 (age 26) 4 0 Bulgaria Lokomotiv Sofia

Recent call-ups

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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
GK Karim Abdoul Aziz (2005-08-13) 13 August 2005 (age 19) 0 0 Benin Dadje v.  Libya; 10 September 2024
GK Serge Obassa (1996-06-30) 30 June 1996 (age 28) 2 0 Benin AS Cotonou v.  Senegal; 26 March 2024

DF David Kiki (1993-11-25) 25 November 1993 (age 30) 51 0 Romania FCSB v.  Libya; 10 September 2024
DF Youssouf Assogba (2001-08-21) 21 August 2001 (age 23) 20 0 France Bordeaux v.  Senegal; 26 March 2024

MF Ricardo Prince Dossou (2006-07-20) 20 July 2006 (age 18) 4 0 Benin ASVO v.  Nigeria; 10 June 2024
MF Lenny Pirringuel (2004-03-02) 2 March 2004 (age 20) 1 0 France Quevilly-Rouen v.  Senegal; 26 March 2024
MF Cebio Soukou (1992-10-02) 2 October 1992 (age 32) 24 4 Turkey Bandırmaspor v.  Lesotho; 21 November 2023
MF Rodrigue Kossi (2000-07-11) 11 July 2000 (age 24) 12 0 Saudi Arabia Al-Taraji Club v.  Lesotho; 21 November 2023

FW Samson Akinyoola (2000-03-03) 3 March 2000 (age 24) 2 0 Egypt Zamalek v.  Nigeria; 10 June 2024
FW David Tchétchao (2003-09-29) 29 September 2003 (age 21) 1 0 Benin ASVO v.  Nigeria; 10 June 2024
FW Charbel Gomez (2001-01-27) 27 January 2001 (age 23) 18 0 Georgia (country) Samgurali Tsqaltubo v.  Senegal; 26 March 2024
FW Stéphane Sessègnon (1984-06-01) 1 June 1984 (age 40) 89 24 Malta Sirens v.  Lesotho; 21 November 2023

Player records

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As of 15 October 2024[8]
Players in bold are still active with Benin.
Stéphane Sessègnon is Benin's top goalscorer and their most capped player.
Most appearances
Rank Player Caps Goals Career
1 Stéphane Sessègnon 89 24 2004–present
2 Khaled Adénon 86 2 2006–2023
3 Mickaël Poté 69 10 2008–2022
4 Jodel Dossou 67 10 2013–present
5 Damien Chrysostome 58 0 2002–2011
6 Steve Mounié 57 19 2015–present
7 Jocelyn Ahouéya 55 3 2003–2013
Razak Omotoyossi 55 21 2004–2016
9 Romuald Boco 52 1 2004–2013
10 David Kiki 51 0 2015–present
Séïdath Tchomogo 51 6 2003–2014
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Stéphane Sessègnon 24 89 0.27 2004–present
2 Razak Omotoyossi 21 55 0.38 2004–2016
3 Steve Mounié 19 57 0.33 2015–present
4 Oumar Tchomogo 15 34 0.44 1995–2008
5 Jodel Dossou 10 67 0.15 2013–present
Mickaël Poté 10 69 0.14 2008–2022
7 Moussa Latoundji 6 21 0.29 1993–2004
Mouritala Ogunbiyi 6 47 0.13 1998–2019
Séïdath Tchomogo 6 51 0.12 2003–2014
10 Léon Bessan 5 20 0.25 1995–2007
Anicet Adjamossi 5 48 0.1 2002–2013

Competitive record

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FIFA World Cup

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FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA
Uruguay 1930 toSweden 1958 Not a FIFA member; part of France Not a FIFA member; part of France
as  Dahomey as  Dahomey
Chile 1962 Not a FIFA member Not a FIFA member
England1966 and Mexico1970 Did not enter Did not enter
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 3 0 0 3 1 10
as Benin /  Benin as Benin /  Benin
Argentina1978 and Spain1982 Did not enter Did not enter
Mexico 1986 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 0 6
Italy 1990 Did not enter Did not enter
United States 1994 Did not qualify 6 1 0 5 3 19
France 1998 Did not enter Did not enter
South Korea Japan 2002 Did not qualify 2 0 1 1 1 2
Germany 2006 12 2 3 7 13 26
South Africa 2010 12 7 1 4 18 14
Brazil 2014 6 2 2 2 8 9
Russia 2018 2 1 0 1 2 3
Qatar 2022 6 3 1 2 5 4
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined 4 2 1 1 4 3
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total 0/15 54 18 8 28 55 96

Africa Cup of Nations

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Africa Cup of Nations record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
Sudan 1957 Part of  France
United Arab Republic 1959
Ethiopia 1962 Not affiliated to CAF
Ghana 1963
Tunisia 1965 Did not enter
Ethiopia 1968
Sudan 1970
Cameroon 1972 Did not qualify
Egypt 1974 Withdrew
Ethiopia 1976
Ghana 1978 Did not enter
Nigeria 1980 Did not qualify
Libya 1982 Did not enter
Ivory Coast 1984 Did not qualify
Egypt 1986
Morocco 1988
Algeria 1990
Senegal 1992
Tunisia 1994
South Africa 1996 Withdrew
Burkina Faso 1998 Did not qualify
Ghana Nigeria 2000
Mali 2002
Tunisia 2004 Group stage 16th 3 0 0 3 1 8
Egypt 2006 Did not qualify
Ghana 2008 Group stage 15th 3 0 0 3 1 7
Angola 2010 Group stage 14th 3 0 1 2 2 5
Equatorial Guinea Gabon 2012 Did not qualify
South Africa 2013
Equatorial Guinea 2015
Gabon 2017
Egypt 2019 Quarter-finals 8th 5 0 4 1 3 4
Cameroon 2021 Did not qualify
Ivory Coast 2023
Morocco 2025 To be determined
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027
2029
Total Quarter-finals 4/34 14 0 5 9 7 24

Honours

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Regional

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References

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  1. ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 16 October 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  3. ^ Kobo, Kingsley. "Fifa back detained Benin FA boss Anjorin Moucharaf". Goal. Archived from the original on 2021-11-09. Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  4. ^ "Benin löst Nationalelf auf". Der Spiegel. 9 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
  5. ^ "Bénin: Les Ecureuils et Michel DUSSUYER sanctionnés" (in French). Fédération Béninoise de Football. Archived from the original on 11 February 2010. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  6. ^ "Benin coach Michel Dussuyer 'unaware' of sacking". BBC Sport. 9 February 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  7. ^ "La liste" (in French). Benin Football Federation. 27 May 2024.
  8. ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Benin – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
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