Romuald Boco is on international duty
Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Word on the streets’ of Sligo was that someone had managed to get hold
of dodgy satellite images for the big World Cup qualifier. A few
eyebrows were raised by those having late lunch by the quays, when
more than a handful of people descended from different directions
carrying foreign beer. There was an increasing commotion coming from
one of the apartments overlooking the river.
“What’s going on up there?” one man below was heard asking his dog. Just before a quarter to seven, another man looked out the apartment window and shouted down, to an accompanying cheer, “Romuald Boco is on International duty.”
a Yes, he was, and Benin had just scored the winner against all the odds, against Ghana in Benin’s economic capital and largest city, Cotonou.
A small nation, and dirt poor (average wage is $510/annum); Benin has never enjoyed much success on the field, on any stage. Having never qualified for a World Cup Benin’s chances of doing so this time round were dashed in early September after a one all draw at home against Mali. ’The Squirrels’ looked poised to have to wait until their final game in the group against Sudan to secure a spot in the African Cup of Nations next January.
Miraculously a goal in the final minute from Mohamed Aoudou ensured a victory for Boco’s side against a Ghana outfit whose line-up included John Pantsil of Fulham and Chelsea’s Michael Essien.
“We did not expect that in Benin, we thought we could get a draw but that’s football. Maybe we’ll get more respect now” Romuald recently told extratime.
It is the third time Benin has qualified for an African Nations Cup finals as they done so in 2008 as well as in 2004. That initial qualification in 04 was followed with the National side participating in the Under-20 World Cup in Holland in 2005.
Boco has played in all Benin’s major tournament appearances and 2005 marked a new dawn for football in the country after the Under 20’s drew with both Australia and Japan in the group stages. A narrow 1-0 loss to the holders prevented the Squirrels going further but it is something the Bit O’Red midfielder is proud of to this day and says that tournament is one of the highlights of his career so far.
“Definitely the Under 20 World Cup and the win against Ghana are the highlights…we’ve been the same team for six years now which makes a big difference. To beat Ghana was a dream but it is not a huge surprise because we played well. We have good players playing at a high level,” said Boco.
The climb up the ladder from international obscurity has seen a huge rise in popularity and games now attract a huge following after years of playing in front of a few thousand.
“The country is in love with the game,” says Boco. “There can be forty to forty five thousand at international matches now. After the win against Ghana lots and lots of people followed the bus from the stadium (Stade de l’Amitie) to the hotel. It is a great distraction for the people.”
The midfielder is a French national and qualifies for his adopted nation through his father who emigrated to France from Benin. Having captained the Beninese on several occasions, Boco is an integral part of the national side and enjoys the trips to international games where he visits his Aunt and Uncle when games are in Cotonou. “Yes it’s very nice and is a little rest, this year especially with all the pressure [with Sligo Rovers].”
All signs point to that pressure continuing until the last day of the season but Boco insists the North Westerners are good enough to avoid the drop.
“With the team we have since July we expect to stay up….and I think [we’ll finish] 7th.”
No matter what the fortunes of his club side Romuald Boco’s future with Benin is bright and all roads lead to Angola in January.
African Nations 2010 in brief.
Hosts: Angola
Dates: 10 January - 31 January
Venues:
Cities - Venues – Capacity
Luanda - Estadio Cidade Universitaria - 40,000
Benguela - Complexo da Sr. da Garcia - 25,000
Cabinda - Estadio Chimandela - 25,000
Lubango - Estadio Alto da Chela - 25,000
Qualification:
16 teams to qualify with 12 having already done so. The final four places will be decided on the weekend starting November 13 when the final group matches for African qualification to the World Cup will take place.
The top three teams in each group qualify for the African Cup of Nations. World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualification run simultaneously when both tournaments fall on the same year.
“What’s going on up there?” one man below was heard asking his dog. Just before a quarter to seven, another man looked out the apartment window and shouted down, to an accompanying cheer, “Romuald Boco is on International duty.”
a Yes, he was, and Benin had just scored the winner against all the odds, against Ghana in Benin’s economic capital and largest city, Cotonou.
A small nation, and dirt poor (average wage is $510/annum); Benin has never enjoyed much success on the field, on any stage. Having never qualified for a World Cup Benin’s chances of doing so this time round were dashed in early September after a one all draw at home against Mali. ’The Squirrels’ looked poised to have to wait until their final game in the group against Sudan to secure a spot in the African Cup of Nations next January.
Miraculously a goal in the final minute from Mohamed Aoudou ensured a victory for Boco’s side against a Ghana outfit whose line-up included John Pantsil of Fulham and Chelsea’s Michael Essien.
“We did not expect that in Benin, we thought we could get a draw but that’s football. Maybe we’ll get more respect now” Romuald recently told extratime.
It is the third time Benin has qualified for an African Nations Cup finals as they done so in 2008 as well as in 2004. That initial qualification in 04 was followed with the National side participating in the Under-20 World Cup in Holland in 2005.
Boco has played in all Benin’s major tournament appearances and 2005 marked a new dawn for football in the country after the Under 20’s drew with both Australia and Japan in the group stages. A narrow 1-0 loss to the holders prevented the Squirrels going further but it is something the Bit O’Red midfielder is proud of to this day and says that tournament is one of the highlights of his career so far.
“Definitely the Under 20 World Cup and the win against Ghana are the highlights…we’ve been the same team for six years now which makes a big difference. To beat Ghana was a dream but it is not a huge surprise because we played well. We have good players playing at a high level,” said Boco.
The climb up the ladder from international obscurity has seen a huge rise in popularity and games now attract a huge following after years of playing in front of a few thousand.
“The country is in love with the game,” says Boco. “There can be forty to forty five thousand at international matches now. After the win against Ghana lots and lots of people followed the bus from the stadium (Stade de l’Amitie) to the hotel. It is a great distraction for the people.”
The midfielder is a French national and qualifies for his adopted nation through his father who emigrated to France from Benin. Having captained the Beninese on several occasions, Boco is an integral part of the national side and enjoys the trips to international games where he visits his Aunt and Uncle when games are in Cotonou. “Yes it’s very nice and is a little rest, this year especially with all the pressure [with Sligo Rovers].”
All signs point to that pressure continuing until the last day of the season but Boco insists the North Westerners are good enough to avoid the drop.
“With the team we have since July we expect to stay up….and I think [we’ll finish] 7th.”
No matter what the fortunes of his club side Romuald Boco’s future with Benin is bright and all roads lead to Angola in January.
African Nations 2010 in brief.
Hosts: Angola
Dates: 10 January - 31 January
Venues:
Cities - Venues – Capacity
Luanda - Estadio Cidade Universitaria - 40,000
Benguela - Complexo da Sr. da Garcia - 25,000
Cabinda - Estadio Chimandela - 25,000
Lubango - Estadio Alto da Chela - 25,000
Qualification:
16 teams to qualify with 12 having already done so. The final four places will be decided on the weekend starting November 13 when the final group matches for African qualification to the World Cup will take place.
The top three teams in each group qualify for the African Cup of Nations. World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualification run simultaneously when both tournaments fall on the same year.
