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Benin national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Benin women's national football team.
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Benin
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Les Guépards
(The Cheetahs)
Formerly: Les Ecureuils (The Squirrels)
Association Benin Football Federation
Confederation CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation WAFU (West Africa)
Head coach Gernot Rohr
Captain Steve Mounié
Most caps Stéphane Sessègnon (89)
Top scorer Stéphane Sessègnon (24)
Home stadium Stade de l'Amitié
FIFA code BEN
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 94 Steady (7 February 2019)
Highest 59 (November–December 2009, April 2010)
Lowest 165 (July 1996)
Elo ranking
Current 107 Decrease 5 (3 March 2019)
Highest 56 (December 1964)
Lowest 165 (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
Appearances 4 (first in 2004)
Best result Quarter-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

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.

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. Dussuyer was unaware that he had been sacked and claimed that he had not done anything wrong. 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

Main article: Benin national football team results (2020–present)

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

2024

Coaching history

  • France Serge Devèze
  • Benin Wabi Gomez
  • Germany Peter Schnittger (1992)
  • Benin Moise Ekoue (1993)
  • Ghana Cecil Jones Attuquayefio (2003–2004)
  • France Hervé Revelli (2004)
  • Benin Edmé Codjo (2005–2007)
  • France Didier Notheaux (2007)
  • Germany Reinhard Fabisch (2007–2008)
  • France Michel Dussuyer (2008–2010)
  • France Jean-Marc Nobilo (2010)
  • France Denis Goavec (2010–2011)
  • Benin Edmé Codjo (2011–2012)
  • France Manuel Amoros (2012–2014)
  • France Didier Ollé-Nicolle (2014)
  • Benin Oumar Tchomogo (2015–2017)
  • France Michel Dussuyer (2018–2021)
  • Benin Moussa Latoundji (2022–2023)
  • Germany Gernot Rohr (2023–present)

Current staff

Position Name
Head coach Germany Gernot Rohr
Assistant coaches Benin Moustapha Tchawogbé
Benin Gervais Adjanohoun
Goalkeeping coach Benin Apollinaire Gbadamassi
Fitness coach Benin Ibrahim Kpadenou
Match Analyst Benin Christophe Fagbohoun
Doctors Benin Dr. Hervé Gbalazou
Benin Dr. Michel Djogbenou
Physiotherapists Benin Alain Gbenou
Benin Thomas Hounkpè
Benin Ousmane Houssou
Benin Maxime Tchouassi
Team coordinator Benin Bernard Gbedjissi
Technical director Benin Mohamed Agbassi

Players

Current squad

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

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 31) 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 31) 32 2 France Angers
2DF Rodrigue Fassinou (1999-05-22) 22 May 1999 (age 26) 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 22) 1 0 United Arab Emirates Hatta Club
3MF Sessi D'Almeida (1995-11-20) 20 November 1995 (age 29) 38 1 Cyprus Apollon Limassol
3MF Junior Olaitan (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 (age 23) 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 21) 14 1 Egypt Smouha
3MF Hassane Imourane (2003-04-08) 8 April 2003 (age 22) 13 1 Egypt Modern Future
3MF Mariano Ahouangbo (2002-11-16) 16 November 2002 (age 22) 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 24) 3 0 Cameroon Coton Sport
3MF Samadou Attidjikou (2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 21) 0 0 Egypt Al Masry
4FW Jodel Dossou (1992-03-17) 17 March 1992 (age 33) 67 10 France Sochaux
4FW Steve Mounié (1994-09-29) 29 September 1994 (age 30) 57 19 Germany FC 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 27) 4 0 Bulgaria Lokomotiv Sofia

Recent call-ups

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 31) 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 21) 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 25) 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 24) 18 0 Georgia (country) Samgurali Tsqaltubo v.  Senegal; 26 March 2024
FW Stéphane Sessègnon (1984-06-01) 1 June 1984 (age 41) 89 24 Malta Sirens v.  Lesotho; 21 November 2023

Player records

Players in bold are still active with Benin.
Stéphane Sessègnon
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

FIFA World Cup

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 as /  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

Main article: Benin at the Africa Cup of Nations
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 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 Qualified
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027 To be determined
2029
Total Quarter-finals 4/34 14 0 5 9 7 24

Honours

Regional

  • UEMOA Tournament
    • Runners-up (1): 2013

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Benín para niños

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