Aston Villa’s striker Gestede returns to Benin squad

Aston Villa’s striker Rudy Gestede is making his return to the Benin national team, ahead of their clash with Mali in their Group C of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Cotonou on 6 September.

The 26-year-old, who scored the winner in Villa’s Premier League opener at Bournemouth, has already three goals to his name in six appearances for the Squirrels.

Benin’s coach Omar Tchomogo announced a 23-player squad to face the Eagles this Friday, also welcoming back Bayelsa United’s right-back Lazadi Fousséni, SM Caen’s midfielder Jordan Adéoti and Westerlo’s hitman Frédéric Gounongbé.

However, defenders Réda Johnson and Nana Badarou, midfielders Mouri Ogounbiyi and Jodel Dossou and forwards Jacques Bessan and Mohamed Aoudou have been left out, together with injured Emmanuel Imorou.

Skipper Stéphane Sessegnon and his teammates will be looking to seal their first win of the campaign, after holding Equatorial Guinea to a 1-1 draw in Bata in their Group C opener last June.