Benin Republic Edge Botswana To Revive AFCON 2025 Hopes
2 min read
By Sedara Philip
Benin reignited their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Botswana in a Group D encounter played in Rabat, Morocco.
The decisive moment came in the first half through defender Yohan Roche, who made amends for his difficult outing against DR Congo on Matchday One by scoring the match-winning goal.
Roche combined neatly with captain Steve Mounie before his effort took a deflection that wrong-footed the Botswana defence and found the back of the net.
The Cheetahs approached the contest buoyed by the return of key figures Mounie and Junior Olaitan, adding experience and balance to their lineup.
Botswana, meanwhile, made just one alteration to the side that fell to Senegal in their opening fixture.
Proceedings in Rabat began at a measured tempo. Benin dominated possession, while Botswana adopted a more direct approach, looking to exploit spaces on the counter.
Clear-cut chances were scarce in the early stages, but it was the Zebras who threatened first. Tumisang Orebonye found himself unmarked in the box in the 25th minute, only to blaze his effort over the bar from close range.
Against the flow of play, Benin struck three minutes later. Roche’s forward run and composed finish broke the deadlock, handing the West Africans a crucial lead. Botswana responded positively and came agonisingly close to equalising when Mothusi Johnson’s brilliantly struck free kick rattled the crossbar in the 36th minute.
After the interval, Benin asserted greater control, dictating the rhythm of the game as Botswana struggled to mount sustained attacking pressure.
The Cheetahs carved out the better opportunities, with right-back Tamimou Ouorou forcing a save from goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko before Mounie squandered the rebound in the 64th minute.
Ouorou tested Phoko again moments later with a deflected effort, while Botswana’s best chance of the second half fell to substitute Mothusi Cooper, whose attempt sailed harmlessly over the bar.
Benin held firm to secure all three points, bouncing back convincingly from their opening-day defeat and keeping their qualification hopes alive. Attention now turns to a decisive final group clash against reigning champions Senegal.
For Botswana, the defeat compounds an alarming run of form and leaves them staring at possible early elimination ahead of their final Group D fixture against DR Congo.
Sedara Philip is a Sports writer, an administrator,Journalist,and editor
