The Benin national team are striving to gather their form amid series of internal crises that have rocked the West African nation’s football of late. Barely a month ago, there were two football federations – one supported by the local authorities while the other had the backing of Caf and Fifa.
Two coaches were drawing two parallel lists of players. The domestic league had been languishing in confusion, several club officials and their players had taken to the streets of Cotonou to protest the generalised imbroglio.
However, some sanity seems to have been injected into the whole system and football is being played again, with local fans yearning to see the Squirrels compete on home turf after their 2-1 semi-debacle against Cote D’Ivoire in Ghana during the 2012 Afcon third round qualifying.
Benin are confronting the Elephants for the umpteenth time, but with little or no lessons learnt from their continuous loss to the Ivorians. Perhaps the star-studded Cote D’Ivoire team naturally outmatch the Benin side or perhaps an inferiority complex sets in even before both teams set out on the pitch.
Nevertheless, Benin are at it again and must engage the likes of Chelsea’s duo Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou, Lille’s Gervinho and Manchester City’s Yaya Toure. With just Stephane Sessegnon of Sunderland, Michaël Poté of Le Man and Metz forward Razack Omotoyossi to count on, together with a bunch of home based elements, the on-paper predictions are not going easily for the hosts.
If coach Fortuné Glèlè can galvanize his troop to throw their all in the clash as if no other was ahead, Benin could check the Ivorians and rake in whatever is to be deserved.
Striking while the iron is hot
With nine points from three games, Cote D’Ivoire are hoping to top up to 12 after Sunday’s meeting in Cotonou. Group H has been deemed by pundits as a cheap gift for the Ivorians who are matched up against minnows Burundi, Rwanda and Benin.
Benin are still trailing Cote D’Ivoire by five points, and any outcome on Sunday will not affect the Ivorian position of the group. Still, claiming three points away from home would do the Elephants much good in negotiating the rest of the campaign.
An early qualification for the 2012 African Cup of Nations would buy coach Francois Zahoui more prestige at the FA and around the country, where a number of fans are yet to be convinced with the performance of the indigenous tactician thus far. He would also have ample time to prepare for the showpiece proper.
Another weight on the coach’s shoulders is sending some joy back home from the encounter in order to pacify millions of Ivorians who are still suffering from the trauma of the five-month post election violence that claimed some 3,000 lives and forced millions to flee their homes.
Didier Drogba and co are conscious of the role football has played in reconciling Ivorians in the past and this will be another opportunity to demonstrate how valuable soccer is in the socio-political life of a nation.
If the Ivorians play their traditional game without underrating the adversary, they are capable of carrying the day, big or small.
TEAM NEWS
Benin
No news of injury was reported at the Squirrels’ press conference on Friday. The 23 players, which include seven locals, had successive training sessions at the match venue of Stade de l’Amitie in Cotonou from Wednesday through Friday.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Guillaume Bèmènou (Chambéry, France), Saturnin Allagbé (ASPAC, Benin), Kenneth Odilo (Soleil, Benin).
Defenders : Romuald Boco (Shanghai East Asia, China), Khaled Adénon (Le Mans, France), Emmanuel Imorou (Chateauroux, France), Réda Johnson (Sheffield United, England), Damien Chrysostome (Denizlispor, Turkey), Arsène Ménessou (Le Havre, France).
Midfielders : Junior Salomon (ASPAC, Benin), Affissou Fayomi (Requins, Benin), Seydath Tchomogo (Al Oruba Club, Oman), Nouhoum Kobénan (Al Madina, Libya), Koukou Djiman (Créteil, France), Jocelyn Ahouéya (Strasbourg, France), Arnaud Séka (Tonnerre, Benin), Mouritala Ogounbiyi (Guingamp, France), Stéphane Sessègnon (Sunderland, England).
Forwards : Michaël Poté (Le Mans, France), Razack Omotoyossi (FC Metz, France), Isaac Louté (Soleil, Benin), Mohamed Aoudou (Tonnerre, Benin).
Cote D’Ivoire
Stuttgart defender Boka Arthur, PSG’s Tiéné Siaka, and Trabzonspor’s new recruit Zokora Didier have been confirmed unfit for the match due to injury. AS Monaco’s Lolo Igor was hurriedly summoned to fill part of the gap.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Barry Boubacar (Lokeren, Belgium), Yeboah Daniel (Asec Mimosas, Ivory), Gnanhouan Gerard (Vannes OC, France)
Defenders : Angoua Brou Benjamin (Valenciennes, France), Gohouri Steve (Wigan, England), Eboue Emmanuel (Arsenal, England), Lolo Igor (OGC NICE, France)
Midfielders: Toure Yaya (Manchester City, England), Coulibaly Kafoumba (OGC NICE, France), Gosso Gosso Jean-Jacques (AS Monaco, France), N’dri Romaric (Sevilla, Spain), Max Gradel (Leeds United, England), Ya Konan Didier (Hannover 96, Germany)
Forwards: Yao Kouassi Gervais (Lille, France), Doumbia Seydou (CSKA Moscow), Didier Drogba (Chelsea, England), Kalou Salomon (Chelsea, England), Keita Abdul Kader (AL Sadd Sport, Qatar), Boni Wilfried Guemiand (SBV Vitesse Arhnem)
PREDICTION
On paper, it would be safe to tip Cote D’Ivoire to beat Benin, but physically, many things come into play that might possibly alter the forecast. However, I would give the Ivorians the nod.
Benin 1-2 Cote D’Ivoire
