The Benin U20 Cheetahs arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday, the host country of the 9th Francophonie Games. The competition will take place from July 28th to August 6th, 2023, in Kinshasa.
Postponed twice due to the health crisis, the 9th edition of the Francophonie Games will be held in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, from July 28th to August 6th, 2023. Several African nations will participate in this sports and cultural event.
Benin will also be part of the event, notably represented by the junior Cheetahs. The delegation left Cotonou for the Congolese capital on Monday, according to journalist Roméo Aklozo’s information.
Placed in a challenging group Coming back from Abidjan, where they finished third in the UFOA B U20 Cup behind Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire, the young Cheetahs will have to excel once again to hope for success in this competition. Coach Mathias Déguénon’s players are placed in Group C, alongside Senegal, Mauritania, and Cameroon.
The Beninese team will face the Young Lions of Teranga on Friday, July 28th, at 10:00 AM, then the Mourabitounes on Sunday, July 30th, at 2:00 PM, and finally the Young Indomitable Lions on Tuesday, August 1st, at 4:00 PM, in the first round.
The list of the 20 selected players:
GOALKEEPERS
- KARIM RAHMAN AZIZ (DADJÈ FC)
- BENTTO DAVID WONDER (AS POLICE)
DEFENDERS
- MALIK KADER BARKA (DAMISSA FC)
- OOURROU TAMIMOU (ASPAC)
- SAKAMAO RABIOU (ASPAC)
- MOUMINI RACHID (AYÉMA FC)
- MOULEIRO GABRIEL (DYNAMO D’ABOMEY)
- YAI KOLADE ESTACHE (USS KRAKE)
- AKAKPO RENÉ (REQUINS)
MIDFIELDERS
- ATTIDJIKOU SAMADOU (BANI GANSE FC)
- MABOUMOU ALASSANE (COTON FC)
- HASSANE IMOURANE (LOTO-POPO)
- ADAM MOUZIL (DJEFFA FC)
- ROUFAI SOHBOUR ATANDA (REQUINS)
FORWARDS
- TESSLIMINI OLATOUNDJI (FINLAND/SJK AKATEMIA II)
- VIGNINOU BIENVENU (LOTO-POPO)
- HOUNKPE SOUMAILA (AS COTONOU)
- AVOCEVOU AHOLOU GAEL (DREAMS/GHANA)
- ISSIFOU FADIL TRAORÉ (BANI GANSE FC)
- TCHETCHAO KARO DAVID (ASVO)
