By Michael Oti Adjei BBC Sport, Accra

Benin wants more than the 16 foreign-based Nations Cup players

Benin coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio says he plans to make the most of Fifa's rule change on nationality as the Squirrels prepare for the 2006 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers.

The Ghanaian reckons Benin, who made their Nations Cup debut at Tunisia 2004, have a great future but he admits the country's available talent pool is too thin to support any meaningful push up the African football ladder.

I have a contract that runs until August 2004 and I will see that out and stay if the Benin FA want me to Benin coach Cecil Jones Attuquayefio

"We had some difficulties completing the squad of 22 for the Nations Cup," Attuquayefio told BBC Sport in Accra.

"In the end, we had to rely on some France-based players, including one who came straight out of college into the Nations Cup.

"Now the option for me is that we take advantage of Fifa's rule change on nationality and scout for players of Benin decent who would be eligible to play for us."

There had been reports in Ghana linking Attuquayefio with a return to the Ghanaian club scene but the coach is adamant he will see out his contract with Benin.

"I have a contract that runs until August 2004 and I will see that out and stay if the Benin FA want me to," he said.

"I feel appreciated in Benin and for every coach, that matters a lot.

"Now, African countries are going for Europeans so for Benin to trust I can do a good job is very pleasing."

Benin appointed Attuquayefio in April last year just before the completion of the qualifying rounds for the last Nations Cup.

The new Fifa rule allows Africans with dual citizenship to play for their countries of origin as long as they have not played at senior level for an adopted country.

Some African sides took advantage of the ruling ahead of the Nations Cup.

France-born Frederic Kanoute put on a Malian jersey after having played for the French under-21 side.

Senegal also fielded Lamine Sakho of Leeds United at the Nations Cup although he had a French youth team cap, while Algeria was another country to profit from the rule change.