Roma Block Dybala and Molina From Messi's Farewell
AS Roma will not release Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina to attend Lionel Messi's Argentina farewell against Benin, citing travel and fixture demands.
Football national side
Benin
National team · Benin
«The Cheetahs»
55
Matches
18
wins
16
draws
21
losses
56–66
Goals
−10
Difference
1.0
Scored per game
Form
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
W
29 Sep · Home Mauritania · 2:1
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| 7 Oct | Friendlies |
Argentina
A
|
||
| 29 Sep | Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification |
Mauritania
H
|
2:1 | W |
| 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 |
Standing
Africa Cup of Nations - QualificationGroup stage · Africa Cup of Nations - Qualification - Group F
| # | Team | M | W | D | L | Goals | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
 Benin
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3:2 | 4 |
| 2 |
Burkina Faso
|
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2:1 | 4 |
| 3 |
Mauritania
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4:3 | 3 |
| 4 |
 Central African Republic
|
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1:4 | 0 |
Team statistics
matches counted in total: 55
55
Matches
18
wins
16
draws
21
losses
56–66
Goals
−10
Difference
1.0
Scored per game
wins
draws
losses
scored — above the line
conceded — below the line
| Metric | Total | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | 55 | 23 | 32 |
| Scored | 56 | 28 | 28 |
| Conceded | 66 | 19 | 47 |
| Scored per game | 1.0 | 1.2 | 0.9 |
| Conceded per game | 1.2 | 0.8 | 1.5 |
| Difference | −10 | +9 | −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 | 23 | 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
Team news
Tuchel demands response as England prepare for Czech Republic
After England's 3-2 Nations League loss to Spain at Wembley, Tuchel looks ahead to the next World Cup qualifier in Prague against Czech Republic.
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.
Almada and Foyth out of Argentina squad for Messi farewell
Thiago Almada and Juan Foyth are out injured before Argentina's three friendlies ending with Messi's farewell against Benin, while Prestianni stays in the squad.
Messi Moves to Second on All-Time Free-Kick List
Messi's free kick in a 2-2 draw with San Diego FC gave him 75 career free-kick goals, passing Jair, and his 20th MLS goal of 2026.
Messi reveals Argentina shirt for farewell match vs Benin
Lionel Messi has shown the gold-detailed shirt Argentina will wear for his farewell game against Benin at the Monumental on 6 October, after 207 caps.
Ronaldo Named in Jesus' First Portugal Squad
Jorge Jesus kept Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, in his first Portugal squad for four Nations League games, extending his career beyond the World Cup exit.
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.