Mark Chumba
25 January 2008
Tamale — Coach Reinhadt Fabisch faces a supreme test in Sekondi on Friday when he leads little Benin into battle against the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire in their second group 'B' match.
The Benin side, making their second appearance in CAN, were hit 1-0 by Mali in the opening group match last Monday and defeat will confirm their exit and a 30 minute short flight back to Cotonou.
That is why the German tactician, well known in Kenya than Benin, must work out a formula to escape being the first to close shop and return to Benin.
The challenge is massive for Fabisch, who took over Benin a couple of months ago and is yet to adjust fully to the tricky and demanding West African life.
Benin still believe they would have got better result against Mali. They indeed played well and deserved something better. But as fate would have it, they lost and they now face the Elephants and Nigeria in their remaining fixtures.
The presence of stars like Didier Drogba, Haruna Dindane, Kolo Toure and Solomon Kalou should be giving the Benin side sleepless nights and every reason to be worried.
But football is a game of gamble and Fabisch cannot be underrated.
It is the battle of David and Goliath.
Meanwhile, Benin midfielder Mouri Ogunbiyi has rejoined his team mates at their African Nations Cup training camp in Takoradi after apologising for his bad behaviour on Wednesday.
"I apologise to my team mates, the Sports minister and the coach," Ogunbiyi was quoted as saying by the Benin federation on its Web site ( www.febefoot.net ).
"I ask (Reinhard) Fabisch to forgive me and to let be back into the squad."
The player was no longer wanted by the Squirrels' German coach Fabisch, who said on Monday that Ogunbiyi had "lacked respect towards his team mates and to the fans" by breaking squad rules, but he did not elaborate.
"As long as I'll be the Benin coach, Ogunbiyi will be out of the squad."
Benin lost their Group 'B' opener 1-0 against Mali on Monday.
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