The Benin Republic squad facing the Super Eagles at home at the Charles de Gaulle stadium in Porto-Novo will not be intimidated by the heavy weaponry of the Nigerian side.

According to information gleaned by Sports Village Square from Benin Republic newspaper, La Nation, the Benin Republic players were aware of the pedigree of the Super Eagles as three-time African champion and the presence “of the large Nigerian artillery under the aegis of Gernot Rohr.”

According to the publication which was translated from French to English using Google translator, the Benin team had their last open training at the Charles de Gaulle stadium in Porto-Novo on Thursday as subsequent trainings from Friday will be behind the doors.

Continuing, La Nation revealed that Michel Dussuyer, coach of the Squirrels, is counting on the individual and collective strengths of his players before this derby which promises to be enticing between the two neighbours. 

Quarter-finalist of the last African Cup of Nations, Benin, which has already rubbed shoulders with many major nations of the continent such as Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Morocco and Zambia, will be keen to take revenge on Nigeria who beat them in the first leg by a score of 2-1. 

Confident during the training session, the Squirrels intend to approach the match with serenity. 

Apart from Olivier Verdon, key link in the defensive hinge who will be absent, Benin will be able to count on Khaled Adénon in the axis who can be helped in his tasks by Cédric Hountondji, David Kiki, Yohan Roche, Moïse Adiléhou and Youssouf Assogba or Evian Thonon’s left side, Imorou Emmanuel. 

In midfield, Dussuyer has his usual squad even if no one can swear on the form of the captain of the selection, the sporting public will certainly have the opportunity to see young people like Rodrigue Kossi, Mattéo Ahlinvi, Jérôme Bonou and Anaane Tidjani taking over alongside their elders Sessi d’Almeida and Jordan Adeoti in this compartment. 

Very lively in their clubs, Marcellin Koukpo, Jacques Bessan and Jodel Dossou will be able to benefit from the mastery of Cebio Soukou, decisive passer during his last matches with the Squirrels, to make the difference in case they are aligned. 

Often potent in attack, Michael Poté and Steve Mounié are also expected by the Beninese sporting public in this match which seems unbalanced given not only the numbers but also the positioning of the two teams in the Fifa ranking.