Rohr announces preliminary squad ahead of 2025 AFCON
Coach Gernot Rohr has unveiled the preliminary squad for the Benin Cheetahs in preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). A training camp will take place in Morocco, after which the final list will be announced.
Goalkeepers
- DANDJINOU Marcel
- ALLAGBE Kassifa Saturnin
- OBASSA Serge
Defenders
- ATTIDIJIKOU Samadou
- AZONGNI Tode Charlemagne
- FASSINOU Rodrigue
- KIKI David
- MOUMINI Rachid
- OUOROU Tamimou
- YOHAN Roche
- TIJANI Mohamed
- VERDON Olivier
Midfielders
- AHLINVI Mattéo
- AHO Oungbo Mariano
- AHOUDO Gislain
- D’ALMEIDA Sessi
- DOKOU Dodo
- HASSANE Imourane
- KOSSI Rodrigue
Forwards
- AKIMEY Adam
- ALOKO Rodolfo
- AMOUSSOU Romaric
- DOSSOU Jodel
- HOUNTONDJI Andreas
- MOUNIÉ Steve
- OLAÏTAN Junior
- RACHIDOU Razack
- SANTOS Felipe
- TESSILIMI Olatoundji
- TOSIN Aiyegun
The Cheetahs will gather for a training camp in Morocco, at the end of which the definitive list of players for the AFCON will be published.
Group Context for the Benin Cheetahs at CAN 2025
They’re drawn into a particularly challenging pool for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Group D Composition
The Cheetahs are in Group D alongside:
- Senegal (The Lions of Teranga): The reigning AFCON champions (from 2021) and consistently one of the strongest teams in Africa, featuring world-class players. They are the clear favorites of the group.
- Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) (The Leopards): Two-time former AFCON winners and a team with significant individual talent and physical power. They are expected to vie for the second automatic qualification spot.
3.Botswana (The Zebras): Generally considered the underdog in this group. For Benin, securing a win against Botswana will be crucial for any hopes of advancing.
Group D is considered one of the toughest pools in the tournament, making Benin’s task of reaching the knockout stage highly difficult.
Under Rohr, the Cheetahs are expected to rely heavily on their defensive organization, tactical discipline, and quick transitions/counter-attacks to challenge the technical superiority of Senegal and the physical presence of the DR Congo. The match against Botswana is a must-win to even entertain the possibility of advancing, either by finishing in the top two or as one of the best third-placed teams. The training camp in Morocco is a strategic move to fine-tune the squad’s readiness and foster cohesion before they face these tough opponents on the big stage.
