# Benin national football team

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

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

### 2024
## Coaching history

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

### Current staff

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

## Players
### Current squad

The following players were called up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Zimbabwe and South Africa on 20 and 25 March 2025.
Caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2024, after the match against Libya.
| Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
| 1GK | Saturnin Allagbé | (1993-11-22) 22 November 1993 (age 31) | 45 | 0 | Botev Vratsa |
| 1GK | Marcel Dandjinou | (1998-06-25) 25 June 1998 (age 26) | 12 | 0 | JDR Stars |
| 1GK | Serge Obassa | (1996-06-30) 30 June 1996 (age 28) | 2 | 0 | Remo Stars |
| 2DF | David Kiki | (1993-11-25) 25 November 1993 (age 31) | 51 | 0 | FCSB |
| 2DF | Rachid Moumini | (2004-10-27) 27 October 2004 (age 20) | 17 | 1 | Ayema |
| 2DF | Rodrigue Fassinou | (1999-05-22) 22 May 1999 (age 25) | 17 | 0 | Loto-Popo |
| 2DF | Yohan Roche | (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 (age 27) | 16 | 1 | Petrolul Ploiești |
| 2DF | Moïse Adiléhou | (1995-11-01) 1 November 1995 (age 29) | 15 | 1 | Laval |
| 2DF | Mohamed Tijani | (1997-07-10) 10 July 1997 (age 27) | 15 | 1 | Yverdon-Sport |
| 2DF | Rabiou Sankamao | (2003-10-12) 12 October 2003 (age 21) | 5 | 0 | Wydad AC |
| 2DF | Tamimou Ouorou | (2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 (age 21) | 3 | 0 | Hatta Club |
| 2DF | Brandon Agounon | (1994-10-19) 19 October 1994 (age 30) | 0 | 0 | Châteauroux |
| 3MF | Sessi D'Almeida | (1995-11-20) 20 November 1995 (age 29) | 40 | 1 | Apollon Limassol |
| 3MF | Mattéo Ahlinvi | (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 (age 25) | 24 | 0 | Arsenal Tula |
| 3MF | Hassane Imourane | (2003-04-08) 8 April 2003 (age 21) | 17 | 1 | Grasshopper |
| 3MF | Dodo Dokou | (2004-05-04) 4 May 2004 (age 20) | 16 | 1 | Smouha |
| 3MF | Gislain Ahoudo | (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 (age 25) | 4 | 0 | AS Gabès |
| 3MF | Mariano Ahouangbo | (2002-11-16) 16 November 2002 (age 22) | 3 | 0 | AS Soliman |
| 3MF | Samadou Attidjikou | (2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 21) | 0 | 0 | Al Masry |
| 4FW | Jodel Dossou | (1992-03-17) 17 March 1992 (age 33) | 66 | 9 | Victoria Rosport |
| 4FW | Steve Mounié | (1994-09-29) 29 September 1994 (age 30) | 59 | 19 | FC Augsburg |
| 4FW | Junior Olaitan | (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 (age 22) | 30 | 4 | Grenoble |
| 4FW | Andréas Hountondji | (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 22) | 13 | 2 | Standard Liège |
| 4FW | Steve Traoré | (1998-02-18) 18 February 1998 (age 27) | 4 | 0 | FC Haka |
| 4FW | Candas Fiogbé | (2005-01-18) 18 January 2005 (age 20) | 0 | 0 | Atalanta |

### 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 | Mariano Tchinonvi | (2004-07-29) 29 July 2004 (age 20) | 2 | 0 | Loto-Popo | v. Rwanda; 15 October 2024 |
| GK | Karim Abdoul Aziz | (2005-08-13) 13 August 2005 (age 19) | 0 | 0 | Dadje | v. Libya; 10 September 2024 |
| DF | Olivier Verdon | (1995-10-05) 5 October 1995 (age 29) | 37 | 0 | Ludogorets Razgrad | v. Rwanda; 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Cédric Hountondji | (1994-01-19) 19 January 1994 (age 31) | 31 | 2 | Angers | v. Rwanda; 15 October 2024 |
| DF | Youssouf Assogba | (2001-08-21) 21 August 2001 (age 23) | 20 | 0 | Bordeaux | v. Senegal; 26 March 2024 |
| MF | Romaric Amoussou | (2000-12-10) 10 December 2000 (age 24) | 3 | 0 | ASEC Mimosas | v. Libya; 18 November 2024 |
| MF | Ryan Adigo | (2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 (age 23) | 1 | 0 | 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig | v. Libya; 18 November 2024 |
| MF | Lenny Pirringuel | (2004-03-02) 2 March 2004 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | Quevilly-Rouen | v. Libya; 18 November 2024 |
| MF | Ricardo Prince Dossou | (2006-07-20) 20 July 2006 (age 18) | 4 | 0 | ASVO | v. Nigeria; 10 June 2024 |
| FW | Tosin Aiyegun | (1998-06-26) 26 June 1998 (age 26) | 18 | 3 | Lorient | v. Libya; 18 November 2024 |
| FW | Samson Akinyoola | (2000-03-03) 3 March 2000 (age 25) | 2 | 0 | Zamalek | v. Nigeria; 10 June 2024 |
| FW | David Tchétchao | (2003-09-29) 29 September 2003 (age 21) | 1 | 0 | ASVO | v. Nigeria; 10 June 2024 |
| FW | Charbel Gomez | (2001-01-27) 27 January 2001 (age 24) | 18 | 0 | Samgurali Tsqaltubo | v. Senegal; 26 March 2024 |

## Player records

    As of 18 November 2024
    Players in bold are still active with Benin.

## Competitive record
### FIFA World Cup

| FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | FIFA World Cup record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record | Qualification record |
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
| 1930 to 1958 | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France | Not a FIFA member; part of France |
| as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey | as Dahomey |
| 1962 | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member | Not a FIFA member |
| 1966 and 1970 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1974 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin | as / Benin |
| 1978 and 1982 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1986 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 1990 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1994 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 6 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 19 |
| 1998 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 2002 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 2006 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 12 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 26 |
| 2010 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 12 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 18 | 14 |
| 2014 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 9 |
| 2018 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 2022 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| 2026 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| 2030 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| 2034 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | − | 0/15 | − | − | − | − | − | − | 54 | 18 | 9 | 27 | 55 | 96 |

### Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record :
| Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | D* | L | GF | GA |
| 1957 | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France |
| 1959 | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France | Part of France |
| 1962 | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF |
| 1963 | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF | Not affiliated to CAF |
| 1965 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1968 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1970 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1972 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1974 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1976 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1978 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1980 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1982 | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter | Did not enter |
| 1984 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1986 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1988 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1990 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1992 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1994 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1996 | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew | Withdrew |
| 1998 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2002 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2004 | Group stage | 16th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 8 |
| 2006 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 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 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2013 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2015 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2017 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2019 | Quarter-finals | 8th | 5 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 2021 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2023 | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 2025 | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified | Qualified |
| 2027 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| 2029 | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined | To be determined |
| Total | Quarter-finals | 4/34 | 14 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 7 | 24 |

## Honours
### Regional

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