Sports Correspondent

Benin national team coach Gernot Rohr has unveiled a 25-man squad ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers in Group C. The team will face Zimbabwe in Durban’s Moses Mabhida Stadium on March 21, before hosting South Africa in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on March 25.

The squad features young talent such as Candas Fiogbé, an Italian-based striker who plays for Atalanta’s under-20 team. However, French-based players Aiyegun Tosin and Cédric Hountondji will miss the games due to injuries, and Olivier Verdon has been excluded for disciplinary reasons.

Out of the 25 players named, only two are based in Benin, while the remaining players represent clubs from 17 different countries.

Here is the full squad:

Goalkeepers:

Saturnin Allagbé (Botev Vratsa, Bulgaria)

Marcel Dandjinou (JDR Stars, South Africa)

Serges Obassa (Remo Stars, Nigeria)

Defenders:

Moise Adilehou (Laval, France)

Brandon Agounon (Châteauroux, France)

Rodrigue Fassinou (Coton Sport Benin)

David Kiki (Steaua Bucharest, Romania)

Rachid Moumini (Ayéma)

Tamimou Ouorou (Hatta, United Arab Emirates)

Yohan Roche (Petrolul 52, Romania)

Rabiou Sankamao (Wydad Fès, Morocco)

Mohamed Tijani (Yverdon Sport, Switzerland)

Midfielders:

Mattéo Ahlinvi (Arsenal Tula, Russia)

Mariano Ahouangbo (Soliman, Tunisia)

Gislain Ahoudo (Gabès, Tunisia)

Samadou Attidjikou (Al Masry, Egypt)

Sessi d’Almeida (Apollon Limassol, Cyprus)

Dodo Dokou (Smouha, Egypt)

Imourane Hassane (Grasshoppers Zurich, Switzerland)

Forwards:

Jodel Dossou (Victoria Rosport, Luxembourg)

Candas Fiogbé (Atalanta, Italy)

Andréas Hountondji (Standard Liège, Belgium)

Steve Mounié (FC Augsburg, Germany)

Junior Olaitan (Grenoble, France)

Steve-Waren Traoré (Haka, Finland)