Benin’s national football team will be without striker Andréas Hountondji during the March 2026 international break after the forward decided not to join the squad despite recently returning to action in Germany.

The coaching staff of the Benin national football team, known as the Cheetahs, had hoped to count on the attacker during the upcoming training camp.

However, the player will remain with his club FC St. Pauli instead of travelling to link up with the national team.

Hountondji only recently returned to the pitch, making his comeback on Friday, 13 March 2026, after a lengthy period away from competition.

His return is seen as a positive development for the German club, but it will not immediately benefit the national side.

According to reports from Mega Sport, the Beninese forward personally expressed a desire not to take part in the upcoming FIFA fixtures scheduled for this month.

Relations between the striker and the national team have already faced difficulties in the past.

Tension between the two sides dates back to the period before the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025. Shortly before that competition began, Hountondji opted not to report to the national team.

On that same occasion, the striker had delivered a notable performance at club level, scoring a goal against FC Bayern Munich.

Soon after that match, however, he suffered a serious injury which forced him into a prolonged absence from football.

Although he has now recovered, the player has chosen to concentrate on regaining full fitness with his club before returning to international duty.

The focus for the remainder of the season is to rebuild form and maintain consistency after his injury layoff.

In Germany, Hountondji earns an annual salary of approximately €660,000, which is equivalent to about 429,000,000 FCFA.

Meanwhile, FC St. Pauli are preparing for their 26th league fixture in the Bundesliga, where they are set to face Borussia Mönchengladbach.

For Benin, the absence of Hountondji means the Cheetahs will have to navigate the March international window without one of their recognised attacking options while the forward continues his recovery and rebuilds his form in Germany.