Roma reluctant to release Dybala and Molina for Messi farewell
Roma would rather keep Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina at Trigoria than send them to Argentina for Lionel Messi's farewell against Benin on 6 October.
Boxing national side
Benin
National team · Benin
«The Cheetahs»
54
Matches
17
wins
16
draws
21
losses
54–65
Goals
−11
Difference
1.0
Scored per game
Form
L
5 Jan · Away Egypt · 1:3
W
27 Mar · Home Liberia · 1:0
W
31 Mar · Away Guinea · 1:0
D
5 Jun · Home Niger · 1:1
L
9 Jun · Away Togo · 1:5
D
25 Sep · Away Burkina Faso · 1:1
Benin lost the first match it ever played, 0–1 to Nigeria, on 8 November 1959. In 2019, captained by Stéphane Sessègnon, the side reached the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, a run built under coach Michel Dussuyer. Sessègnon remains the team's all-time top scorer and most capped player.
The federation now known as the Fédération Béninoise de Football organises the national side, which plays under the nickname Les Guépards, The Cheetahs. Home games are played at the Stade de l'Amitié in Cotonou, in front of a capacity of 35,000.
Regionally the record reads better in patches: third place at the WAFU Nations Cup in 2013 and again in 2017, without ever going on to win it.
Latest results
Fixtures and results| 25 Sep | Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification |
Burkina Faso
A
|
1:1 | D |
| 9 Jun | Friendlies |
Togo
A
|
1:5 | L |
| 5 Jun | Friendlies |
Niger
H
|
1:1 | D |
| 31 Mar | Friendlies |
Guinea
A
|
1:0 | W |
| 27 Mar | Friendlies |
Liberia
H
|
1:0 | W |
| 27 Mar | Friendlies |
Palestine
H
|
Standing
World Cup - Qualification AfricaGroup stage · Group C
| # | Team | M | W | D | L | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 South Africa
|
10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 15:9 | 18 |
| 2 |
 Nigeria
|
10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 15:8 | 17 |
| 3 |
 Benin
|
10 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 12:11 | 17 |
| 4 |
 Lesotho
|
10 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 9:12 | 12 |
| 5 |
 Rwanda
|
10 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5:9 | 11 |
| 6 |
 Zimbabwe
|
10 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 5:12 | 5 |
Team statistics
matches counted in total: 54
54
Matches
17
wins
16
draws
21
losses
54–65
Goals
−11
Difference
1.0
Scored per game
wins
draws
losses
scored — above the line
conceded — below the line
| Metric | Total | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 54 | 22 | 32 |
| Scored | 54 | 26 | 28 |
| Conceded | 65 | 18 | 47 |
| Scored per game | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Conceded per game | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| Difference | −11 | +8 | −19 |
Key players
by appearances over the last yearSquad of Benin
by appearances over the last year| Number | Player | Position | Age | Matches | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 | |
 Yamiru Wouro |
Defender | 1 | |
| 12 | |
 K. Azongnitode |
Midfielder | 25 | 1 |
| 8 | |
 Imourane Hassane |
Midfielder | 23 | 1 |
| 7 | |
 Mattéo Ahlinvi |
Midfielder | 27 | 1 |
| 2 |  Liam Omore |
Forward | 1 | ||
| 17 |  R. Aloko |
Midfielder | 1 | ||
| 14 |  O. Tessilimi |
Forward | 1 | ||
| 18 |  Junior Olaitan |
Midfielder | 1 | ||
| 15 |  Sessi D'Almeida |
Defender | 1 | ||
| 3 |  T. Wouru |
Defender | 1 | ||
| 10 |  Aiyegun Oluwatosin Tosin |
Forward | 1 | ||
| 22 |  A. Samadu |
Midfielder | 1 | ||
| 11 |  A. Mumini |
Defender | 1 | ||
| 5 |  Yohan Cédric Benjamin Roche |
Defender | 1 | ||
| 13 |  M. Tijani |
Midfielder | 1 | ||
| 19 |  D. Dodo |
Midfielder | 1 | ||
| 1 |  Marcel Dandjinou |
Goalkeeper | 1 | ||
| 9 |  E. Oloko |
Forward | 1 | ||
| 16 |  S. Allagbé |
Goalkeeper | 1 |
Fixtures of Benin
-
29 Sep · 18:00
Mauritania
H
Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification
Team news
Almada and Foyth out of Argentina squad for Messi farewell
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Messi Moves to Second on All-Time Free-Kick List
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Messi reveals Argentina shirt for farewell match vs Benin
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Ronaldo Named in Jesus' First Portugal Squad
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Lionel Messi to Play Final Argentina Match Oct. 6
Messi will bid farewell to the Argentina national team on Oct. 6 against Benin in Buenos Aires, capping a three-match international break under Lionel Scaloni.
Lionel Messi to Play Farewell Match for Argentina
Messi will join Argentina's squad on 6 October against Benin in Buenos Aires, capping his international career after 125 goals in 207 matches.
Messi Recalled to Argentina for Farewell Friendlies
Argentina's AFA called Messi back for three September–October friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin, his last games for the national team.