COTONOU, Benin - Benin's coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio has been criticised by local media over his choice of players for this month's African Nations Cup in Tunisia.

"It's an unfair selection and the principal victims are (former captain Amadou) Mudachirou, Hugo Robard and Djilan Thomas who should be on the plane to Tunisia," said Tuesday's edition of La Nation newspaper.

"It's not too good a squad because we left some good players behind," sports journalist Jabia Falola said on Cotonou Gulf FM radio programme.

"It's almost like Nigeria not selecting (Nwankwo) Kanu and (Jay-Jay) Okocha."

The squad left Cotonou on Monday for Tunisia, via Libya, where in their tournament debut they will face African heavyweights Nigeria, South Africa and Morocco in the first round group stage.

A farewell party for the squad was almost ruined when some disgruntled fans, with drums in tow, stormed the team's hotel.

"We don't want to be disgraced so the best must be picked for Benin in the tournament," soccer fan Michel Herve said.

Attuquayefio defended his selections, saying the best players were named and that he did not pick Mudachirou because he was still recovering from a knee injury sustained last year.

"No doubt, he's served the country well but he's not fit and I think it's not proper for me to select him on sentiments," he told Reuters before the team's departure.

"He has not played any decent football since the injury and I only called him to train with the side to encourage him."

Attuquayefio, who was also criticised for selecting only two goalkeepers for the tournament, added that it was better to have an extra outfield player than taking three goalkeepers.

"I know people's fears that one of our keepers could be injured or ill in Tunisia, but I think an outfield player will serve the team better."

Benin's first match is against South Africa on January 27 in Sfax.