Benin eye upset without Gestede in Ouagadougou

by BackPageTXT

Monday Nov 16, 2015. 13:30

Benin will be eager to hold onto their aggregate advantage when they face Burkina Faso in a second-leg 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match at the Stade du 4 Août on Tuesday.

The Squirrels beat their more fancied opponents 2-1 in the first-leg last Thursday and will advance onto the third round with a draw in Ouagadougou.

Goals from Stéphane Sessègnon and Babatounde Bello steered Benin to a narrow win in Cotonou, but the Burkinabe did manage a vital away goal through Prejuce Nakoulma.

Benin will again have to do without Aston Villa ace Rudy Gestede, the burly striker had to be substitute at half-time in the first-leg and has since returned to England to continue his recovery from a knee injury.

Head coach Omar Tchomogo is also sweating on the availability of defender Khaled Adénon and midfielder Babatoundé Bello, but will be able to call on SM Caen defensive midfielder Jordan Adéoti who pulled out of the reverse fixture due to injury.

The Stallions will be a different animal on home soil and will once again rely on the likes of Chelsea's Bertrand Traoré and stalwarts Aristide Bancé and Jonathan Pitroipa.

Burkina Faso have dropped 17 places to 93rd in the latest FIFA world rankings, Benin sit in 103rd.

Kick-off is at 20h00.