Benin captain Steve Mounié ruled out as Gernot Rohr reshapes Cheetahs squad

Benin will head into their final international gathering of the sporting year with a reshaped squad after injuries and player withdrawals forced coach Gernot Rohr to rethink his plans for the Cheetahs.

The most significant setback for the West African side is the absence of captain Steve Mounié, who has been ruled out with a meniscus injury.

The striker is set to undergo surgery in Montpellier, leaving Benin without one of their most experienced and influential players for the upcoming camp.

His recovery period is expected to last between one and five weeks, dealing a major blow to the team’s attacking options ahead of the gathering.

Benin’s defensive department has also been weakened by the continued absence of Abdoul Rachid Moumini.

The right-back has not recovered from the injury he suffered during the match against Liberia on 27 March and is not expected to return before next season.

The growing list of absentees extends beyond injuries. Several senior players will not be part of the squad for other reasons, with some being rested after demanding club campaigns while others have been excused from the training camp due to personal and family commitments.

Despite the withdrawals, the coaching staff are viewing the situation as an opportunity to reshape the squad and evaluate fresh talent.

Rohr is expected to use the upcoming camp to test younger players and introduce new faces into the national setup as Benin look to broaden their options for future competitions.

The revised squad is therefore likely to include several emerging talents eager to impress during the international window.

Preparations for the gathering are already scheduled to begin later this month. The first group of available players will assemble in Cotonou on 25 May before the squad spends a week training in the Beninese capital.

The team will then travel to Morocco at the beginning of June to continue preparations as Rohr assesses his reshaped squad ahead of the upcoming assignments.