AFCON 2025: Benin missing five key players for their opener against DR Congo
Deprived of five starters, suspended for its opening match against the DRC, Benin will have to field a heavily reshuffled squad to start AFCON 2025 in Morocco.
For its fifth participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, Benin had hoped to approach the competition in the best possible conditions. But with just weeks to go before the tournament kicks off in Morocco, the Cheetahs will have to cope with a large number of absences among their starters for the opener.
The Beninese squad will indeed be missing five key players for the opening match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, scheduled for 23 December. Mohamed Tijani, Andréas Hountondji, Junior Olaitan, Marcel Dandjinou and captain Steve Mounié will each serve a suspension, a direct consequence of accumulating yellow cards during the qualifying campaign.
This mass absence inevitably undermines coach Gernot Rohr’s plans, who will have to remodel a usually well-established core. Benin, already aware of the challenge the DRC represents for their opening match, will need to draw on its resources to avoid a false start in a competition where every point counts.
Despite this blow, the Cheetahs’ ambition remains intact as they return to the continental stage six years after their memorable run in 2019. Now it’s a question of finding solutions to cover these gaps and begin AFCON 2025 without faltering.
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