Loto-Popo coach Cheikh Gueye: “I did not come to Benin to play supporting roles”

Loto-Popo were held to a goalless draw (0-0) by Damissa FC on Matchday 1 of the Ligue Pro as the club looks to fulfill its ambitions and return to the top of Beninese football.

After the game, the club’s head coach, Cheikh Gueye, sat down with our correspondent, Hilary Christelle Tolo Kpadonou, to discuss his team’s performance, his views on the league’s new format, and his ambitions for the season. Here is the full interview.

Hilary Christelle Tolo Kpadonou: Coach, a draw to kick off the season. Your team has been absent from the top two for the past two years. Would you say this is a good start, or was it not what you expected today?

Cheikh Gueye: I think it’s too early to say whether the season has started well or not. It’s only the first matchday of the league. For us and for our opponent, the automatisms are not fully in place yet.

We dominated ball circulation and possession, but we came up against a defensively well-organized team. We created several chances but failed to convert them. In that sense, we can say we dropped two points, especially at home. But in a league campaign, every point matters. So, coming away with a draw is not entirely negative.

Hilary Christelle Tolo Kpadonou: What do you take away from your team’s performance in this first match?

Cheikh Gueye: The principles we worked on during the week were respected. We asked the players to try to destabilize the opponent by using the half-spaces, and they did it several times. Unfortunately, the crosses lacked precision and did not allow our forwards to receive the balls they needed to score.

From a tactical and technical perspective, I am satisfied with the content. The opponent stuck to their plan: they defended in a low and medium block and tried to counterattack. We knew they would play this way, and we had prepared a pressing strategy after losing the ball, which helped us recover possession many times. In the end, their success was to secure the draw they were looking for.

Hilary Christelle Tolo Kpadonou: The Beninese league is back this season to a linear format of 34 matchdays. What is your opinion on this system?

Cheikh Gueye: For me, this is the minimum a country can do. With globalization, we need to draw inspiration from what works elsewhere. We cannot stay with formats of two, three, or four groups.

If today Benin can organize a linear championship with 18 teams and 34 matchdays, it deserves to be commended. In West Africa, it’s rare to see such a format. Most countries run with 14 teams. Here, this choice will allow players to accumulate more playing time, to progress, and for the fans to enjoy a better spectacle. It also responds to the expectations of the President of the Republic, who is investing heavily in the development of Beninese football.

Hilary Christelle Tolo Kpadonou: Finally, what are your personal objectives for this season?

Cheikh Gueye: I coached in Senegal, where I won the league, the League Cup, and the Super Cup. I did not come to Benin to play supporting roles. My goal is clear: to bring the club back to African competitions next season, whether in the CAF Confederation Cup or the Champions League.

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