By Karim Okanla BBC Sport Online, Cotonou

Benin Republic has never qualified for the African Nations Cup finals, but officials of the country's football federation are keen to end their run of misfortune.

A training tour of Belgium, lasting from 3-17 August, is geared towards preparing the Squirrels, as the national team is known, for a successful campaign in the qualification series for Tunisia 2004.

Benin face Tanzania in their first group match in September.

Rene Taelman, the Belgian coach managing the side, has set himself a great task, as he tries to forge a side capable of upsetting Africa's established football order.

Deflated

But the signs have not been promising.

Their encounter against Saint-Trond, a first division Belgian club, turned out to be a disaster, as the Beninois suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat.

Fans back home were angry about the loss and wondered whether the trip to Europe justified the 32 million CFA Francs (about US $ 43,000) spent by the Benin Football Federation.

The Squirrels have subsequent games against Belgium's national military team on 14 August and Anderlecht, the country's best known club.