Dussuyer’s Eyes on Leading Benin Past Group Stage in Egypt

Benin national team head coach Michel Dussuyer is targeting to lead Benin past the group stage of the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations finals set for June 21 – July 19 in Egypt.

The Squirrels find themselves in a difficult group containing champions Cameroon and former champions Ghana as well as Guinea-Bissau.

Dussuyer, who has twenty one foreign-based players and two home-based professionals to do the duty, has expressed quite a confidence ahead of the next Tuesday Group F opener against Ghana in Ismailia.

“I have no apprehension. We will create problems for them and have a positive result that would allow us to achieve the goals. We know that we do not have the strength of Ghana but we are able to compete with big teams,” Dussuyer told CAF Online as translated from French.

“Our goals, I think I have clearly announced them from the time we earned our qualification. The first goal is to win the opening match and from there we will work to qualify for the Round of 16. The other important set target is to get home as late as possible. ”

Benin has had good preparations to the tournament so far as they won 1-0 in a friendly against Guinea last Tuesday.

Stéphane Sessegnon, who is set to miss the Ghana match due to an accumulation of yellow cards, scored the lone goal of the match in the 30th minute from the edge of the box for the crucial win

Benin are expected to play another friendly before heading to Egypt for the tournament where they will be making their third appearance.

The Squirrels will then face Guinea Bissau and Cameroon in their other group games respectively.