TotalEnergies U-20 AFCON: Benin eyeing better showing in third appearance
Benin will be Egypt for their third appearance at the TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations with the aim of securing a place at the World Cup.
Bronze medalists at home in 2005 and eliminated in the first round in 2013 in Algeria, the Junior Squirrels return to the competition after a ten-year absence with bigger ambitions.
Coach Mathias Deguenon's charges do not intend just to make up the numbers in Egypt but to make a meaningful impact and that means gaining one of the World Cup places from the tournament.
History in U-20 AFCON
Bronze medallists at home in 2005 and eliminated in the first round in 2013 in Algeria. Benin will be in Egypt to honour a third participation with style.
Coach Mathias Deguenon
Former coach of Loto FC, ASAE FC and Energie FC, the experienced trainer has been in charge of the side since 2018.
This means the coach knows the terrain of U20 tournaments well and states the ambitions of his side ahead of the start of the competition.
"The objective for Benin is to go and book a place among the four teams that will be at the World Cup which will take place in Indonesia," Deguenon said.
"So, we are not going to Egypt, just for participation. We are going to wet the jersey as we know how to do it. We will fight to truly honour the nation. It's clear in everyone's mind," insisted the technician.
The Players to Watch
Mathias Deguenon and Rodolpho Aloko will be one of the bright sparks in the Benin team.
The Dynamo FC duo have impressed in the league and coach Mathias will be relying on them to take his team in the latter stages of the competition.
Local Football
Dragon Club FC dominated the league with 12 titles as champions of Benin until 2003. The most constant club over its last decade is Parakou. The Buffaloes have won 5 league titles, including three in the last six years. Loto Club and Coton FC have won the last two editions.
Group matches
For their entry into the running in Group C, Benin will face Zambia on Tuesday, February 21. Then, the team will do battle with Tunisia on Friday February 24, before finishing with Gambia on Monday February 27.