Ghanaian-born coach, Cecil Jones Attuquayefio's contract with the Benin national soccer team, the Squirrels expires in August this year and its renewal will only be based on how well the team fares in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers which kick-starts in June.

Benin is paired in the same group with giants Cameroon, Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire and Sudan.

Coach Attuquayefio who was back in the country some two weeks ago after he guided Benin to their maiden Cup of Nations in Tunisia, told the GNA Sports in Accra that even though the task looks quite difficult it could be surmounted.

He said his optimism stems from the experience and exposure the boys have gained in the Cup of Nations, adding that with determination Benin could make it.

"Before the competition, we had so much respect for the big teams, but now, we've been there and have realized that nobody is a superior", Attuquayefio said.

Benin were eliminated at the group stages, loosing all their matches to Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa, but the Ghanaian-born coach said "the Benin people have refused to be deceived that they could have gone beyond the elimination stages".

He said contrary to his expectations, both the technical handlers and the players have received enormous respect and praise and he in particular have become the toast of the fans.

"The last time Benin played Nigeria for instance, the goal difference was 10 but now it has been narrowed to just one", apparently referring to the recent final group match with their neighbours which they lost 1-2 narrowly.

As a way of presenting a more solid squad for the qualifiers, Attuquayefio said Benin was going to implore the new FIFA rules-, which enabled players who have featured for the junior teams of any country to change nationality after 22 years - to the fullest.

He said he has been able to identify 25 of such people in France alone and a lot more in Togo and Ghana who will be assessed for a possible inclusion in his "dream team".

The former Black Stars cum Hearts of Oak's coach was sad that Ghana could not make to the Africa's elite competition saying, "Charlie, with the kind of players we have at home and abroad, Ghana would have been rated among the best in Africa if there was a little bit of determination and the willingness to die for the country".

He said he was shocked to learn that a soccer nation like Ghana could only sponsor one local coach to the Nations Cup to learn and study the countries the nation will be playing with in the qualifying matches in June.

"I don't think it has to do with money because if a country like Benin was able to sponsor a 200 contingent to Tunisia, then we don't have any excuse", Attuquayefio said.