The national team of Benin, in the process of a name change from the Squirrels, is due here today. The team which is jointly tied at the top of the group with Algeria is in no mood for jamboree in Banjul. Ahead of the trip the coach Michel Dussuyer announced a killer squad for the Banjul match which is prepared with only one objective- win or at least draw to keep pace with Algeria who are meeting third place Togo.
Key players include goalkeeper Fabien Farnolle, defender Khaled Adenon, strikers Mickael Poté and Steve Mounié. They will have to do without captain Stéphane Sessègnon though who is suspended after being sent off in their 1-0 win over visiting Algeria in October.
Coach Michel Dussuyer was quoted by the media in Cotonou as saying that the only case scenario for qualifying is to win in The Gambia without Togo beating Algeria. ”We are going to The Gambia to make the best possible result,” he told the press in Benin at the weekend. He however admitted knowing nothing about The Gambia apart from the fact that the country has a good squad with players who play in Europe.
Benin beat The Gambia 1-0 in Cotonou in the opening game of the qualifiers in June last year and are tied on seven points with Algeria in Group D while Togo have five points and The Gambia are bottom with only two points.
Meanwhile The Gambia national team is already in camp at the Ocean Bay Hotel. Coach Tom Saintfeit had called on Gambians to stick with the team to the end no matter what but there is great demand for him to at least provide home victory for the country.
-Additional info from Gambia sports
