Benin Cup 2026: exciting matchups from the first round, the full draw.
With the draw held this Tuesday, we now know the first-round draw of the Benin Cup 2026. Several big clashes are on the schedule.
SUMMARY
The Benin Football Federation kicked off the Benin Cup 2026. The national body held the draw for the first round this Tuesday at the headquarters of the Professional Football League in Mènontin, Cotonou. A ceremony that allowed the competition’s complete structure to be unveiled. This new edition will be played in five rounds.
From the start, 28 teams will be involved for 14 knockout matches. The winners will advance to the second round, where they will be joined by a ‘best loser’ selected to complete an eight-team bracket in the next round. The third round will serve as the quarterfinals with four matches on the program, before semifinals contested between the four survivors. The final, the ultimate step, will crown the winner of this 2026 edition.
The draw produced several interesting matchups from the first round, including two clashes between elite teams. Among the fixtures to watch: Abeilles vs Coton, Buffles vs Djeffa, or Dragons against AS Léopards. Other matches also promise entertainment, such as SOBEMAP – ASPAC or LOTO-Popo – Espoir.
The chosen format promises an intense competition: each match will be played in a single game, on a neutral venue. In case of a tie at the end of regulation time, the teams will be decided by a penalty shootout. With this draw, the Benin Cup is officially launched, and clubs no longer have the right to make mistakes in a competition where every misstep is knockout.
The complete first-round schedule:
Abeilles – Coton
Buffles – Djeffa
AS Élite – Béké FC
Aïnonvi FC – USS-Kraké
BOA – ASVO
Dragons – AS Léopards
US Baboni – Bani Gansè
Ayema – AS Okuta
SOBEMAP – ASPAC
LOTO-Popo – Espoir
JA Missérété – Dynamo d’Abomey
Énergie – CEFES
Requins – US Cavaliers
Hodio – Aziza
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