D2 of the world qualifiers, Qatar 2022 : The Squirrels against the Leopards to confirm

After the success in Antananarivo against Baréas de Madagascar on the first day of the World Cup qualifiers, Qatar 2022, the Benin Squirrels want to confirm their good start in qualifying by receiving this Monday 6 September to 14 h from Cotonou (13h GMT) at the General Mathieu Kérékou Friendship Stadium in Kouhounou, the Leopards of the Democratic Republic of Congo. A match synonymous with the final first leg between the two top names in this group J.

Victorious of Madagascar, Benin must follow up with a victory over DR Congo on the second day of qualifying for the World Cup Qatar 2022 to maintain the flame of the resurrection. First in their group with three points, the delighted Squirrels of Benin know that the continuation to the World Cup would probably not be so simple. Hence the caution of coach Michel Dussuyer. " It's a good start. Now, it can be improved. We will have to continue on the same dynamic. This is why we need this second success even though we know it will be difficult ", he said in a pre-match press conference adding "The DRC is a great football nation. We know what to expect ”.

"We are leaders. It feels good to be first in the group. The goal for Monday is to take all three points ", adds Captain Khaled Adénon. The former Amiens player reassures that morale is high in the Squirrels' lair. "The victory won against the Malagasy is doing us good", he confided. So he will say that he believes in their chances of qualifying for the world. "When playing a competition, we have to believe in it and give ourselves every chance ".

Why victory matters

After elimination against Sierra Leone in the Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021, he urgently needs to raise his head to sanction the qualifiers for the World Cup with performance. This is why a draw or loss is forbidden. In any case, if we want to afford a place to titillate the great sports-king nations on the continent, victory is more than a requirement, history of reconnecting with the fetish phrase "Benin is impregnable at home". Because Nigeria already ended last March the invincibility of 16 Benin home matches (1-0). However, you have to be able to be resilient, like warriors, to fly a tricolor that is blown by the wind but still secured to its mast. And much more than tactics, this match will be played in the mind, to determination, fighting spirit and sacrifice. Everything Khaled Adénon and his teammates must have to rekindle the fire of the confidence of a people who have not finished digesting the disillusionment of Conakry.

The trap to avoid

For this important meeting, where the coach aims for victory, Michel Dussuyer could go back to a system in 5-4-1 or 3-5-2, in which Mattéo Ahlinvi plays the role of the Beninese game custodian while Steve Mounié displays great complicity on the offensive front with Cèbio Soukou. The main question concerns the tenure or not of Jodel Dossou who was not in Antananarivo. The Squirrels will have to be careful not to look at the current form of the Congolese selection which could change during this meeting.. "DR Congo still remains a formidable team despite these poor performances of recent times", underlines a warned of the football thing. Because this meeting is valid for history, for the honor and for the pride of a true resurrection.

 Damien TOLOMISSI