Benin: Reorganization at the helm of professional football

Beninese professional football is entering a new phase of restructuring. On Monday, September 29, the Executive Committee of the Benin Football Federation (FBF) officially installed the Transitional Committee for the Management of Professional Football.

A clear mandate, a tight deadline

This decision stems from Decision No. 003-B/2025/FBF/CE/PT, dated September 26, which formalizes the dissolution of the previous leadership structure and signals a strong intent to accelerate reforms in elite football governance.

Heading this Committee is Wilfrido AYIBATIN (Loto-Popo FC), appointed as Coordinator, with Joël DEBALLY (Coton FC) serving as Deputy Coordinator. In his first address, Mr. Ayibatin emphasized the significance and urgency of their mission:

We have been entrusted with a clear mandate, but within an extremely tight timeframe: three weeks to finalize the foundational statutes for our future League.

In addition to day-to-day management and oversight of the 2025-2026 championship, the top priority remains drafting and submitting the founding documents for the future Benin Professional Football League (LFPB). The Committee reaffirmed its intention to build on existing work in order to deliver, by mid-October, a solid, transparent legal and organizational framework in line with international standards.

Composition of the Transitional Committee

• Coordinator: Mr. Wilfrido AYIBATIN (Loto-Popo FC)
• Deputy Coordinator: Mr. Joël DEBALLY (Coton FC)
• Treasurer: Mr. Toundé YÉBADOKPO (Real Sport)
• Rapporteur: Mr. Blaise DONOU (Sitatunga)
• Deputy Rapporteur: Mr. Sakaryaou ALOUGBIN (Sobemap)

A season already underway

This change in governance comes as the 2025-2026 Benin championship has already kicked off, with the opening matchdays played on September 27 and 28. Beninese football is now in a true race against the clock to provide its elite with a stable and modern professional structure.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr