In an exclusive interview with Frank Simon from Afrofootball55.over-blog.com, Beninese international Michael Poté speaks out on the causes of Benin’s failure in their quest to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021.
" Frankly, it's very hard to swallow. Does in our heads, we thought we were already qualified before playing ? In all cases, We did not expect that. For me, we weren't eliminated in that match. As long as we don't beat that opponent, we lose at home at the last second against Nigeria and draw against Lesotho, we didn't deserve to go in the end. We did not know how to win that fight ", said the Beninese striker. Better it goes further. "We saw each other too beautiful too quickly. We lost the game off the pitch. Psychologically. We prepared for this deadline for three weeks and we thought we would pass. In my career, and I'm closer to the end than the start, I have never been so mentally exhausted. We had a hard time managing outside of football ”, he is sorry.
To believe it, it's a collective failure. "But we are all responsible ! This disappointment is part of the job. We did not exchange (Michel Dussuyer) since elimination. I have known him since 2005 because he was my trainer at AS Cannes. He knew I had an Ivorian side, but did not know about my Beninese side ! I don't doubt his ability to get back to work. In 2019, we were the heroes, there we are the zeros ... ", He said while still hoping for a better tomorrow "We can still become heroes in the eyes of the people if we qualify for the World Cup 2022. Play for selection, it's carrying a whole country. So, either you make fun, either you hurt a whole people. The joy is indescribable when you win. As I told my colleagues, we all win together and we all lose together ”
Damien TOLOMISSI