Jodel Dossou: “Nobody knows what I’ve been through…”

Facing the press after the Cheetahs were eliminated in the round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Jodel Dossou reacted with lucidity to the criticisms. The Beninese striker spoke of a difficult personal period and reaffirmed his determination to return to his best level.

After Benin’s elimination in the round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Jodel Dossou chose to speak out. The Cheetahs’ forward, regularly targeted by critics, delivered a testimony imbued with lucidity and restraint, far from any controversy.

Clearly moved but determined, the Beninese player said he would fully own the judgments about his performances. Aware of the expectations placed on him, Dossou affirms he will continue to work tirelessly to meet the demands of top-level football. According to him, criticisms are an integral part of the career of an international and should not derail what matters most: commitment and self-sacrifice for the national jersey.

The forward also spoke, in veiled terms, of a delicate personal period, kept in the shadows until now. Private difficulties that may have slowed his progress and weighed on his performance, without ever serving as an excuse. Only those close to him truly measure the magnitude of the ordeals he has faced in recent months. “Nobody knows what I’ve gone through, nobody knows. Those who are close to me know what I’ve had and what I’ve gone through. Up to now, I am in the process of working”, he explained.

Despite this dry spell, Jodel Dossou remains resolutely focused on the future. Convinced of his qualities, he says he is working to regain his best level and to once again fully contribute to the Cheetahs’ ambitions. A message of responsibility and resilience, in a context where Benin football is seeking to rebuild after the Moroccan disappointment.