COTONOU, Benin - Swiss-born defender Alain Gaspoz has been included in Benin's preliminary list of 26 players for the African Nations Cup finals later this month despite ending his professional career at the end of last season.

COTONOU, Benin - Swiss-born defender Alain Gaspoz has been included in Benin's preliminary list of 26 players for the African Nations Cup finals later this month despite ending his professional career at the end of last season.

Benin Football Federation officials confirmed the 37-year-old Gaspoz, who left FC Sion in June and is now player-coach of amateur club FC Bagnes in Switzerland, was in a list of players selected for a 10-day training camp in Brazil.

Gaspoz, whose mother is from Benin, played for the west Africans at the 2004 Nations Cup finals in Tunisia, Benin's only previous appearance at the finals.

Benin compete in Group B in Ghana, drawn with the Ivory Coast, Mali and Nigeria. Their opening match against Mali is in Sekondi on January 21.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Valere Amoussou (Mogas 90), Rachad Chitou (Wikki Tourists, Nigeria), Yoann Djidonou (Red Star, France)

Defenders: Abdul Adenon (Asec Abidjan, Ivory Coast), Anicet Adjamossi (Creteil, France), Damien Chrystosome (Casale, Italy), Mathieu Edjekpan (Mesagne, Italy), Alain Gaspoz (FC Bagnes, Switzerland), Noel Seka (FC Fyn, Denmark), Bio A Traor, (PanthSres Djougou), Safradine Traore (Buffles Borgou)

Midfielders: Jocelyn Ahoueya (FC Sion, Switzerland), Romauld Boco (Accrington Stanley, England), Djiman Koukou (Soleil FC), Mouri Ogunbiyi (Etoile Sahel, Tunisia), Jonas Oketola (unattached), Oscar Olou (FC Rouen, France), Stephane Sessegnon (Le Mans, France), SosthSne Soglo (Energie FC), Seidath Tchomogo (East Riffa, Bahrain)

Forwards: Wisdom Aka (MSK Zilina, Slovakia), Abou Maiga (Creteil, France), Wassiou Oladipikpo (JS Kabylie, Algeria), Razak Omotoyossi (Helsingborg, Sweden), Abdoulaye Ouzrou (Buffles Borgou), Oumar Tchomogo (Portimonense, Portugal). - Reuters