FORMER Black Stars of Ghana captain, Abedi 'Pele' Ayew has warned that the Les Ecureuils (Squirrels) of Benin Republic, may be the team to beat at the Tunisia 2004 Nations Cup.

Although, Benin Republic would be making a debut at Africa's premier football event alongside Zimbabwe's Brave Warriors and the Wasp of Rwanda, Abedi, a former African Footballer of the Year warned that the Squirrels must be taken seriously.

"Cameroun, Nigeria and Senegal may be favourites for the cup at Tunisia 2004, but the Beninois team I saw in action in Cotonou during the Nations Cup qualifiers, are capable of holding their own against the very best on the continent," declared the youngest member of the all-conquering Black Stars team at Libya '82, in a recent chat with the BBC

The former Olympique Marseille of France midfield ace, and board member of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) had long before the final round of 2004 Nations Cup qualifier, remarked that it would be a "travesty of justice" if the Squirrel failed to secure a ticket to the finals.

The Ghanaian soccer legend, whose national team failed to make it to Tunisia, after embarrassing losses to the Cranes of Uganda and Rwanda, described the Beninois squad as a refreshing huge breadth on African football.

Ironically, however, the honour of qualifying Benin Republic to their first ever Nations Cup finals, goes to former Black Stars handler, Cecil Jones Attuquageffio who was unceremoniously sacked by the GFA. Attuquayeffio took over from Frenchman Rene Taelman, who got the boot after Benin's 3-0 away loss to Sudan.

Quite significantly, Beninois striker Omar Tchomogo emerged one of the leading scorers of the qualifying series with five goals.