AFCON 2023: Gernot Rohr – "The challenge is to stand up to this Senegal side"

The Cheetahs have spent a week preparing, with training sessions on the pitch, at their hotel and even on the beach. They are facing Africa's dominant side of the moment and do not want to look out of their depth. "It's a big game. We're lucky to be playing at home, that's a strength for us, every game has to be won, that's how we have to think. Even if they are the champions of Africa, we have to go into it wanting to win this match", says Brandon Agounon, of US Orléans. The 28-year-old is receiving his first call-up to the national team, along with four other players, two of them dual nationals.

"It's a crucial match and we need to win"

His team-mate Andreas Hountondji, on loan at Stade Malherbe Caen, understands what is at stake in the game. "It's a big challenge, a very big challenge, and we're here to do everything to rise to it. We'll give 100%. There's real momentum, we're trying to build a group, and I think there's no better way to move forward than a challenge like this". To get there, the team can count on Tosin Aiyegun, who has scored 13 goals this season with FC Zurich. "It's a crucial match and we need to win. We're focused on the game. I'll give the best of myself on the pitch", he told Sport News Africa.

"It's important to see whether we've progressed"

Gernot Rohr, the Benin head coach, says the preparation has gone well and that he respects the opposition. "Preparation has gone well. The challenge is to stand up to this Senegal side, who have been unbeaten in Africa for a very long time. They have won all their qualifying matches so far. It's important to see whether we've progressed or whether we can avoid conceding 5 goals like Mozambique did", hopes the Franco-German coach. By his own account, the game against Senegal is not decisive, as qualification will be settled against Mozambique on the final matchday of the qualifiers.

"There will be no man-marking on Mané"

Against the Lions of Teranga on Saturday, Benin will defend and play with caution. "The group has a combative mindset, with respect for the opposition and aggression in the good sense of the word. We will be solid defensively and hit them with quick counter-attacks against a side with an incredible array of attacking talent. We'll field the best team, there will be two or three young players but not too many, because it would be a poisoned chalice to do that", explained the coach. The Cheetahs boss is also wary of Sadio Mané, who scored a hat-trick in the first leg in Diamniadio (3-1). Rhor therefore has a simple plan to contain the two-time African Ballon d'Or winner. "We'll defend collectively and intelligently against Mané. There will be no man-marking."

The former Squirrels, now the Cheetahs, may not have forgotten their quarter-final defeat to Senegal at the AFCON in Egypt in 2019, but they are not driven by a desire for revenge. "I think we need to focus on ourselves. We're fortunate to be second in the group and we're at home. We want to win to move closer to qualification and that's what we'll do", said captain Stéphane Sessegnon.

Rachidi DOSSA