Departing this Tuesday for Ouagadougou by plane, the proteges of coach Thierry Babagbéto seem ready to challenge Africa with pétanque. A second phase of greening at the International Petanque Training Center (CIFOP) de Djadjo allowed Marcel Bio, Marcel Gbetagble, Emmanuel Agonkan and Gontran Sogbohinto to work in detail on the four playing times.
Started on 26 October, this final stage of preparation ended with two friendly matches against the selections of the Atlantique-Littoral and Ouémé-Plateau leagues. Two meetings punctuated by 6 games all won by Benin internationals. At the end of the two friendly matches, national coach Thierry Babagbéto showed his satisfaction, »In view of what we have provided, it is obvious that we are almost ready. Il ne nous reste qu’à effectuer les derniers réglages. »
For the former captain of the Squirrels, l’objectif n’a pas changé ” Nous avons manqué de justesse la finale il y a deux ans à Lomé. In 2007 we lost in the final against Burkina-Faso, l’objectif pour cette 8ème édition de ce rendez-vous continental est de remporter pour le Bénin sa première Coupe d’Afrique des Nations.”
Recall that in addition to the search for the first collective coronation of Benin, captain Marcel Bio will defend his African marksmanship title in Ouagadougou.
Grassien SETONDJI