With just one month to go before the start of the new 2023-2024 season, Beninese clubs are busy with the mercato, signing not only international players but also foreign technicians. This practice, which has been commonplace for the past two seasons, is intensifying as the next championship approaches.
Benin's professional soccer championship kicks off on September 30, 2023. In the run-up to the competition, six clubs signed foreign coaches during the month of August 2023. Les Dragons de l'Ouémé have secured the services of Nigerian Abel Oladunni Oyekale for two seasons. Previously assistant coach of Nigeria's U20 team at the AFCON and the 2022 World Cup, the man is set to restore the reputation of this mythical club, which finished bottom of the last championship. Following in the footsteps of Dragons FC, promoted Abeille FC have signed Cheick Oumar Koné. The Malian coach, twice Burkina Faso champion with ASFA Yennenga, has also signed a two-year contract. Koné, who holds a CAF A license, has the tough task of building a competitive team in Tchaourou.
Super Ligue Pro as the main motivation
The Forces Armées Béninoises team has also joined the fray.Tunisian coach Mohamed Mestiri, who holds a CAF A license, has signed a one-year deal with the military club, automatically renewable in the event of qualification for the Super Ligue Pro. The "Militaires" have failed to qualify for the Super Ligue Pro for the last two seasons, despite a major investment by the club. "His main mission is to lead Adjidja Football Club towards the Super Ligue Professionnelle while bringing his expertise and experience to the realization of the ambitious Adjidja project in the big league", the club communicated.
Dynamo d'Abomey, who finished fifth in the Super Ligue Pro last season, had always played at the top of the table before collapsing at the end of the league season, but have now landed the Franco-Benino-Togolese tri-national Jean-Luc Duho. The coach holds a state diploma in soccer, a Brevet de Moniteur de Football (UEFA B) and the Certificat Fédéral de Préparation Athlétique from the Fédération Française de Football."His innovative vision and dedication to excellence will be major assets in guiding our players to new heights. Having worked with teams at all levels, he will develop an innovative and adaptive approach to maximizing each player's potential," says the royal club.
Foreign sports directors also in demand
The legendary Atlantique club Requins FC signed Cameroonian François Ngoumou for two years on August 21. Dynamo FC de Djougou is currently the latest club to opt for a foreign coach. Nigerian Akinyelu Akisola has taken charge of the club's coaching staff, with the aim of qualifying the team for the Super Ligue Pro.
In addition to these new signings to the championship, foreign sporting directors will be at the helm of certain teams from 2021. This is a project launched by the Ministry of Sport as part of the professionalization of soccer in Benin. As a result, a number of technicians announced as sporting directors have been appointed head coaches, including Vincent Rautureau (Dadjè FC), Victor Zvunka (Coton FC) and Franco Torchia (AS Sobemap). Ivorian Ben Dramane Sanou, former coach of Buffles FC, is now sporting director of Dragons FC and OFMAD-SAD.
Choosing competent, qualified technicians
Almost all Benin coaches hold either a CAF B or UEFA B license. At the AS Loto-Popo-Fus Rabat match in the first preliminary round of the Confederation Cup, the Loto-Popo-Fus Rabat presented their physical trainer, Narcisse Tinkeu Nguimgou, with a CAF A license, as the man in charge of the team. In fact, as in 2021 against Nouadhibou FC of Mauritania, the name of Mathias Déguenon head coach (license obtained in Leipzig) is not entitled to appear on the match sheet. In Benin, the last training course for soccer coaches to obtain a CAF diploma took place in 2014."If clubs feel that locals aren't doing the job properly in view of their shortcomings since the sport is dynamic, it's good form to bring in expatriates to give greater credibility in terms of content. It's up to the FBF to put forward an offensive policy to CAF in order to make up for the shortcomings of our local coaches by training them", analyses Léonard Sonehekpon, a journalist in Cotonou.
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