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Benin national football team

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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Benin women's national football team.
Benin
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Les Guépards
(The Cheetahs)
Formerly: Les Ecureuils (The Squirrels)
AssociationFédération Béninoise de Football (FBF, FEBEFOOT)
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 92 Steady (19 January 2026)[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)
World Cup
Appearances0
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances5 (first in 2004)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2019)

The Benin national football team (French: Équipe nationale de Football du Bénin), 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.

Kit history

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Kit manufacturer

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Kit providers Period
Germany Adidas 1980–1992
Germany Puma 1992–1997
Germany Adidas 1998–2001
Italy Erreà 2002–2006
France Airness 2006–2014
Niger Tovio 2015–2018
United Kingdom Umbro 2019–2022
Italy Macron 2023–present

Results and fixtures

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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

2025

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20 March 2026 World Cup qualification Zimbabwe  2–2  Benin Durban, South Africa
18:00 UTC+2
Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Stadium: Moses Mabhida Stadium
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Bamlak Tessema Weyesa (Ethiopia)
25 March 2026 World Cup qualification Benin  0–2  South Africa Abidjan, Ivory Coast
16:00 UTC+0 Report (FIFA)
Report (CAF)
Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Attendance: 786
Referee: Dahane Beida (Mauritania)
9 June Friendly Morocco  1–0  Benin Fez, Morocco
21:00 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Fez Stadium
Attendance: 34,000
Referee: Mehrez Melki (Tunisia)
5 September 2026 World Cup qualification Benin  1–0  Zimbabwe Abidjan, Ivory Coast
16:00 UTC+0
Report Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium
Attendance: 457
Referee: Lamin Jammeh (Gambia)
9 September 2026 World Cup qualification Benin  4–0  Lesotho Abidjan, Ivory Coast
20:45 UTC+0
Report Stadium: Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium
Attendance: 3,417
Referee: Mahmood Ali Mahmood Ismail (Sudan)
10 October 2026 World Cup qualification Rwanda  0–1  Benin Kigali, Rwanda
17:00 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Amahoro Stadium
Referee: Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour (Egypt)
14 October 2025 (2025-10-14) 2026 World Cup qualification Nigeria  4–0  Benin Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo
17:00 UTC+1
Report Referee: Amin Omar (Egypt)
18 November Friendly Burkina Faso  3–0  Benin Mohammedia, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1
Report Stadium: El Bachir Stadium
23 December 2025 AFCON Group D DR Congo  1–0  Benin Rabat, Morocco
13:30 UTC+1
Report Stadium: Al Barid Stadium
Attendance: 13,073
Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)
27 December 2025 AFCON Group D Benin  1–0  Botswana Rabat, Morocco
13:30 UTC+1 Roche 28' Report Stadium: Rabat Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 7,462
Referee: Shamirah Nabadda (Uganda)
30 December 2025 AFCON Group D Benin  0–3  Senegal Tangier, Morocco
20:00 UTC+1 Report
Stadium: Ibn Batouta Stadium
Attendance: 26,707
Referee: Samuel Uwikunda (Rwanda)

2026

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5 January 2025 AFCON Round of 16 Egypt  3–1 (a.e.t.)  Benin Agadir, Morocco
17:00 UTC+1
Report Dossou 83' Stadium: Adrar Stadium
Attendance: 20,191
Referee: Pierre Atcho (Gabon)
27 March Friendly Benin  –  Palestine , Morocco
21:00 UTC+1 Report
31 March Friendly Guinea  –  Benin , Morocco
21:00 UTC+1 Report

Coaching staff

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Gernot Rohr is the current manager of Benin
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

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 preliminary squad of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.[7]
Caps and goals correct as of 14 October 2025, after the match against Nigeria.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Marcel Dandjinou (1998-06-25) 25 June 1998 (age 27) 19 0 South African Football Association Kruger United
16 1GK Saturnin Allagbé (1993-11-22) 22 November 1993 (age 32) 45 0 French Football Federation Chauray
23 1GK Serge Obassa (1996-06-30) 30 June 1996 (age 29) 2 0 Nigeria Football Federation Remo Stars
3 2DF Tamimou Ouorou (2003-05-03) 3 May 2003 (age 22) 9 0 Unattached
5 2DF Yohan Roche (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 (age 28) 22 1 Romanian Football Federation Petrolul Ploiești
6 2DF Olivier Verdon (1995-10-05) 5 October 1995 (age 30) 42 0 Bulgarian Football Union Ludogorets Razgrad
11 2DF Rachid Moumini (2004-10-27) 27 October 2004 (age 21) 21 1 Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan Sumgayit
12 2DF David Kiki (1993-11-25) 25 November 1993 (age 32) 54 0 Romanian Football Federation FCSB
13 2DF Mohamed Tijani (1997-07-10) 10 July 1997 (age 28) 22 1 Swiss Football Association Yverdon-Sport
26 2DF Charlemagne Azongnitode (2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 24) 0 0 Football Association of Finland Oulu
2 3MF Rodrigue Fassinou (1999-05-22) 22 May 1999 (age 26) 17 0 Benin Football Federation Coton
4 3MF Attidjikou Samadou (2004-02-02) 2 February 2004 (age 22) 8 0 Egyptian Football Association Smouha
7 3MF Mattéo Ahlinvi (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 (age 26) 24 0 Russian Football Union Arsenal Tula
8 3MF Hassane Imourane (2003-04-08) 8 April 2003 (age 22) 24 2 Swiss Football Association Grasshopper
14 3MF Mariano Ahouangbo (2002-11-16) 16 November 2002 (age 23) 3 0 Football Association of Slovenia Olimpija Ljubljana
15 3MF Sessi D'Almeida (1995-11-20) 20 November 1995 (age 30) 45 1 Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan Neftçi
17 3MF Rodolfo Aloko (2006-12-26) 26 December 2006 (age 19) 3 0 Croatian Football Federation Kustošija
18 3MF Junior Olaitan (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 (age 23) 36 5 Turkish Football Federation Beşiktaş
19 3MF Dodo Dokou (2004-05-04) 4 May 2004 (age 21) 22 2 Portuguese Football Federation Leixões
20 3MF Jodel Dossou (1992-03-17) 17 March 1992 (age 33) 72 9 French Football Federation Pays du Valois
21 3MF Rodrigue Kossi (1999-12-31) 31 December 1999 (age 26) 13 1 Royal Moroccan Football Federation Hassania Agadir
22 3MF Romaric Amoussou (2000-12-10) 10 December 2000 (age 25) 5 0 Ivorian Football Federation ASEC Mimosas
24 3MF Razack Rachidou (2006-06-22) 22 June 2006 (age 19) 6 0 Croatian Football Federation Kustošija
25 3MF Olatoundji Tessilimi (1998-02-18) 18 February 1998 (age 28) 4 0 Football Association of Finland SJK
27 3MF Gislain Ahoudo (1999-07-02) 2 July 1999 (age 26) 4 0 Tunisian Football Federation AS Gabès
9 4FW Steve Mounié (captain) (1994-09-29) 29 September 1994 (age 31) 66 22 Turkish Football Federation Alanyaspor
10 4FW Aiyegun Tosin (1998-06-26) 26 June 1998 (age 27) 20 4 French Football Federation Lorient
28 4FW Adam Akimey (2004-02-25) 25 February 2004 (age 22) 0 0 Swedish Football Association Helsingborg

Recent call-ups

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The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Mariano Tchinonvi (2004-07-29) 29 July 2004 (age 21) 0 0 Benin Loto-Popo v.  Burkina Faso, 18 November 2025
DF Rabiou Sankamao (2003-10-12) 12 October 2003 (age 22) 6 0 Morocco Wydad de Fès v.  Burkina Faso, 18 November 2025
DF Jordan Lawson (2007-08-07) 7 August 2007 (age 18) 0 0 United States Lincoln Trail College v.  Burkina Faso, 18 November 2025
DF Cédric Hountondji (1994-01-19) 19 January 1994 (age 32) 32 2 Turkey Bandırmaspor v.  Nigeria, 14 October 2025
DF Gabriel Moulero (2006-01-01) 1 January 2006 (age 20) 0 0 Georgia (country) Dila Gori II v.  Morocco, 9 June 2025
DF Moïse Adiléhou (1995-11-01) 1 November 1995 (age 30) 15 1 France Laval v.  South Africa, 25 March 2025
MF Felipe Santos (1997-01-03) 3 January 1997 (age 29) 0 0 Azerbaijan Araz-Naxçıvan 2025 Africa Cup of NationsPRE
MF Prince Ricardo Dossou (2006-07-20) 20 July 2006 (age 19) 5 0 Benin ASVO v.  Burkina Faso, 18 November 2025
MF Salifu Ibrahim (2000-06-06) 6 June 2000 (age 25) 0 0 Unattached v.  Burkina Faso, 18 November 2025
MF Steve Traoré (1998-02-18) 18 February 1998 (age 28) 5 0 Unattached v.  South Africa, 25 March 2025
MF Brandon Agounon (1994-10-19) 19 October 1994 (age 31) 1 0 France Créteil v.  South Africa, 25 March 2025
MF Ryan Adigo (2001-04-15) 15 April 2001 (age 24) 1 0 Germany SGV Freiberg v.  Libya, 18 November 2024
MF Lenny Pirringuel (2004-03-02) 2 March 2004 (age 22) 1 0 France Quevilly-Rouen v.  Libya, 18 November 2024
FW Andréas Hountondji (2002-07-11) 11 July 2002 (age 23) 19 3 Germany FC St. Pauli 2025 Africa Cup of NationsPRE
FW Candas Fiogbé (2005-01-18) 18 January 2005 (age 21) 3 0 Greece PAS Giannina v.  Lesotho, 9 September 2025
Notes
  • PRE = Preliminary squad/standby.

Player records

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As of 5 January 2026[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 2004–2023
2 Khaled Adénon 86 2 2006–2023
3 Jodel Dossou 76 11 2013–present
4 Steve Mounié 69 22 2015–present
Mickaël Poté 69 10 2008–2022
6 Damien Chrysostome 58 0 2002–2011
7 David Kiki 56 0 2015–present
8 Jocelyn Ahouéya 55 3 2003–2013
Razak Omotoyossi 55 21 2004–2016
10 Romuald Boco 52 1 2004–2013
Top goalscorers
Rank Player Goals Caps Ratio Career
1 Stéphane Sessègnon 24 89 0.27 2004–2023
2 Steve Mounié 22 69 0.32 2015–present
3 Razak Omotoyossi 21 55 0.38 2004–2016
4 Oumar Tchomogo 15 34 0.44 1995–2008
5 Jodel Dossou 11 76 0.14 2013–present
6 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
Junior Olaitan 5 40 0.13 2021–present
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 to Sweden 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
England 1966 and Mexico 1970 Did not enter Did not enter
West Germany 1974 Did not qualify 2 0 0 2 1 10
as Benin /  Benin as Benin /  Benin
Argentina 1978 and Spain 1982 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 10 5 2 3 12 11
Morocco Portugal Spain 2030 To be determined
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total − 0/15 − − − − − − 60 21 10 29 63 104

Africa Cup of Nations

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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 Round of 16 14th 4 1 0 3 2 7
Kenya Tanzania Uganda 2027 To be determined
2029
Total Quarter-finals 5/35 18 1 5 12 9 31

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. 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  2. ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 19 January 2026. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  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. ^ "Benin name 30-man provisional squad for TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025". cafonline.fr. 3 December 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  8. ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Benin – Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2017.
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