Attuquayefio: A Ghanaian in Benin

African national sides have often called in top foreign coaches in the past. Some of the very best European managers have brought their savoir-faire to bear on the continent over the years, with varying degrees of success. Appointing a coach from another African country has been a far rarer occurrence though, which makes the recent nomination of Ghanaian C?cil Jones Atturquayefio as the head of the Benin national team all the more noteworthy. Atturquayefio’s appointment is an audacious one, particularly in the light of the satisfactory record of former coach Ren? Taelman from Belgium.

March 2003: Benin are on the up. Wins over Niger and Burkina Faso see them jump 16 places in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. The heady heights of 133rd have not been attained since August 1999. April 2003: Belgian coach Ren? Taelman is replaced by Ghanaian C?cil Jones Atturquayefio. The Benin Football Association (FbF) are on a mission: to qualify for the African Cup of Nations 2004 (CAN).

The local media had been predicting Taelman’s demise since the turn of the year, despite results going in his favour. Benin are still very much in the running to qualify for the African Cup of Nations, but it would appear the Belgian had trouble rallying the squad to his cause. Martin Adjagodo, President of the FbF, explained the move in an interview with Benin daily Le Matin: "Some players are not happy with Ren? Taelman and believe their antagonistic relationship can hamper the side’s results.” Nonetheless, the President was quick to pay tribute to his former coach: “We called in Taelman at a critical time for Benin football. He took a risk by accepting and helped us put Benin football back on its feet. We should not forget that.”

Impressive credentials

Attuquayefio’s task is a delicate one, especially as it is often harder for a new coach to keep a team on the winning track than to turn a struggling side around. The Ghanaian can call on years of top-flight experience; at 58, the former coach of Ghana’s senior (1985-1987, 2001), youth (1985-1987), U17 (1999) and Olympic (1995-1996) sides, brings a bag-full of trophies with him. He was recently at the head of Ghana’s top club side too, Accra Heart of Oaks Sporting Club (1998-2000), with whom he won the African Champions League in 2000. Atturquayefio’s distinguished career unquestionably persuaded the FbF he was the right man for the job.

“The Federation received applications from a host of coaches from France, Ghana, C?te d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, but we opted for Atturquayefio because of his record,” explained Adjagodo. The Ghanaian’s cause is quite straightforward: to get the Squirrels into the next African Cup of Nations, in Tunisia in 2004. His task is reflected in his contract, which runs until 20 July, just two weeks after the final qualifier against Zambia on 6 July. The former winner of the coveted African tournament (in 1965) relishes the challenge: “With a little luck, and by the grace of God, Benin can qualify. I have not come here for the money but for the challenge – to qualify the Squirrels,” he said shortly after his arrival in Cotonou.

Benin currently sit third in Group 3, behind Zambia and Sudan. They have three games left in which to turn their fortunes around, starting with a first encounter in early June. Atturquayefio, who learnt his coaching trade thanks to FIFA’s Futuro Programme, does not have much time to impose his style on the Benin side, but evidently feels he has what it takes to carry them to their first ever African Cup of Nations finals. If he succeeds, the Ghanaian will be assured of a place in Benin’s footballing folklore – and who knows, he might even earn a contract extension!