SEKONDI, Ghana (AFP) - Mighty Ivory Coast face minnows Benin Friday in potentially the greatest mismatch of the 2008 African Nations Cup.
Morocco overwhelmed Namibia 5-1 three days ago in the most one-sided match so far of the biennial tournament, but the Ivorian 'Elephants' are capable of inflicting even greater damage to the Beninois 'Squirrels'.
The contrast between the 23-man Group B squads is stark with Ivory Coast building their team around stars from English Premiership title contenders Arsenal and Chelsea and Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona.
Kolo Toure is the defensive kingpin, fellow 'Gunner' Emmanuel Eboue operates on the right of midfield in close proximity to Barcelona 'enforcer' Yaya Toure, and Chelsea supply the strike force of Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou.
Benin include the oldest participant at this Nations Cup, 37-year-old Alain Gaspoz, who quit professional football last year and is now player-coach of an amateur Swiss club.
Although born in the landlocked central European country, wide defender Gaspoz qualifies because his mother hails from the tiny west Africa nation surrounded by Togo and Nigeria.
Midfielder Romuald Bocco plays for English fourth division club Stanley Accrington and French Ligue 1 club Rennes thought defender Achille Rouga was on vacation in Benin when he trained with Benin in Brazil.
But despite a 1-0 opening-round victory over Nigeria Monday in the clash of giants, Ivory Coast coach Gerard Gili has warned his stars that complacency could pose the biggest threat.
"We have to be as professional when preparing to play Benin as we were ahead of the match against Nigeria. There is a need to be more compact and every player needs to be available for his team-mates," stressed the French coach.
Gili, who has guided the Ivorian Olympic team to the 2008 Beijing Games, took charge of the 'Elephants' only three weeks ago as German Uli Stielike dashed to Europe when his son lapsed into a coma.
His views were echoed by reigning African Footballer of the Year Drogba, the inspiration behind the rise of the Ivory Coast from non-qualifiers in 2004 to runners-up in 2006 to co-favourites with hosts Ghana this year.
"We respect every team in this group unlike the media who talk only of Ivory Coast and Nigeria. We are fully aware we are not allowed to fail," said Drogba mindful of a disastrous 2000 Nations Cup campaign in Ghana.
Ivory Coast made a first-round exit despite defeating the co-hosts and were detained for several days in a camp by the then military rulers when they returned home.
Behind bold statements by German coach Reinhard Fabisch, another last minute appointment, Benin must know their best chance of a first Nations Cup victory disappeared when losing 1-0 to Mali in the opening round here.
Goalkeeper Rachad Chitou, who plays for Nigerian club Wikki Tourist, is likely to be much busier than against the Malian 'Eagles' as Drogba and Kalou hunt the goals that could seal a quarter-finals slot.
