Salifu Ibrahim is a former Accra Hearts of Oak midfielder
Former Accra Hearts of Oak captain, Salifu Ibrahim has been dropped from Benin’s squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Benin head coach, Gernot Rohr released his 30-man provisional squad for the tournament but described Salifu’s performances as underwhelming, saying they fell below the level of other available players.
The squad features the experience of Steve Mounié and the defensive leadership of Olivier Verdon and Yohan Roche, while midfielders Sessi D’Almeida, Mattéo Ahlinvi, and Dodo Dokou form the backbone of the team’s central structure.
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This comes as a major setback for the 25-year-old midfielder, who switched his nationality from Ghana to Benin and made his debut during the November 2025 international break.
Reports indicate that Salifu’s performances in the matches he played did not impress the coach of the Squirrels, hence his exclusion from the squad.
The former Techiman Eleven Wonders midfielder will now focus on improving his club-level performances in hopes of earning future call-ups.
Benin will face DR Congo, Botswana, and Senegal in Group D as they battle for a place in the knockout stage.
The 35th edition of AFCON is scheduled to take place from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, in Morocco, with 24 countries competing for glory.
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