World petanque championship, Spain 2021: The Benin, winner of the Nations Cup

The small coastal town of Santa Susanna in Spain has hosted 19 at 21 novembre2021, the world championship of pétanque. At the risk of returning home empty-handed, the selection of Benin made up of Marcel Bio, Ronald Botré, Marcel Gbétagblé and Emmanuel Agonkan succeeded in winning the Nations Cup, a competition reserved for nations which are eliminated at the gates of the quarter-finals.

The Boulistes Squirrels managed to win the Nations Cup at the risk of not winning the regular competition. Indeed, expected to play the leading roles in this world petanque championship, the triplet from Benin was unable to repeat the feat of 2016 where she was in the final in Antananarivo. So after having recorded three victories out of four during the first day, the Squirrels missed their subject on the second qualifying day for the quarter-finals. Marcel Bio, Ronald Botré and Marcel Gbétagblé bowed their heads against Finland (11-13) and twice against Senegal (06-13 and 10-13), either a balance sheet of 4 defeats, 3 victories, insufficient to advance to the quarter-finals in the big competition.

As provided for by the regulations, the Beninese selection is immediately transferred to the Nations Cup, which brings together the 31 nations that have fallen in the league. An adventure which finally allows Benin to rise once again to the rank of the best pétanque nations in the world.. Guy Tronnou's foals successively win the Czech Republic in the quarter-finals (13-04) and in the semi-final (13-02). A final controlled from start to finish by the Beninese team which made their Luxembourg counterparts fold (13-07). This success allows Benin to register its name at the 49th edition of the World Petanque Championship in Santa Susanna, Spain, notably at the Nations Cup..

Note that Benin is hosting the 50th edition of the World Championships in the discipline of 08 at 11 December 2022.

Damien TOLOMISSI

Summary of results

Friday 19 November 2021

11st part

Benin-Luxembourg 13-06

2th part

Benin-Norway 13-12

3th part

Benin-Spain 09-13

4th part

Benin-Poland 13-03

Saturday 20 November 2021

5th part

Benin-Finland 11-13

6th part

Benin-Senegal 06-13

Round of 16

Senegal-Benin 13-10

Nations Cup

Quarterfinal

Benign 13-04 Czech republic

Semi final

Benign 13-02 Suisse

Finale

Benign 13- 07 Luxembourg