Khaled Adenon believes Benin have the confidence and momentum to strengthen their position in the CAN 2027 qualifying group when they face the Central African Republic in Douala on Monday.
The return fixture will be played at Japoma Stadium at 16:00 GMT, with Benin looking to build on their emphatic 4-1 victory over the Central African Republic in Abidjan last Thursday.
That result left Gernot Rohr’s side top of Group F on seven points after three matches, level with Burkina Faso. Benin remain unbeaten in the qualifying campaign, having recorded two wins and a draw.
The Central African Republic, by contrast, have yet to collect a point. Adenon believes that difference in form gives Benin an important psychological advantage ahead of the fourth-round meeting.
The former Guepards captain told 229foot that Benin must make the most of their strong position rather than allow their opponents an opportunity to regain confidence. He considers both their unbeaten record and their control of the group standings key assets before the next encounter.
Adenon also wants the team to retain the belief created by the victory in Abidjan and use it to take firm control of the tie in Douala.
A chance to confirm Benin’s progress
The former Benin international also sees a potential qualification for CAN 2027 as an important milestone for the national team.
Adenon represented Benin at the CAN in 2008, 2010 and 2019. His final appearance included a quarter-final run in 2019, and he believes another qualification would underline the team’s growing consistency on the continental stage.
Benin secured their place at CAN 2025, meaning qualification for the 2027 tournament would give the Guepards successive appearances at the competition. Adenon regards that prospect as evidence that the side are establishing a more regular presence among Africa’s leading international teams.
He said achieving that would confirm the progress made in the national team’s recent history and represent another step forward for Benin.
For the former captain, however, the immediate target is more specific than simply protecting their advantage in Group F. He wants Benin to collect all three points in Douala and move as quickly as possible towards securing qualification.
Adenon, who now works within the Federation beninoise de football’s unit responsible for identifying dual-national players, continues to follow the national team closely. He has encouraged the squad to approach the match with the same focus and determination that produced their result in Abidjan.
Benin’s seven points give them a strong opportunity to consolidate their excellent start to the campaign. A further victory would increase the pressure on their Group F rivals and leave the Guepards even closer to CAN 2027.
