Africa-Press – Mozambique. BENIN edged Botswana 1–0 in their Group D match at the Africa Cup of Nations at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, yesterday.
Yohan Roche’s first half goal proved decisive, earning Benin maximum points and keeping their hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive.
Qualification, however, will hinge on their final group match against Senegal on Tuesday, as well as the outcome of Senegal’s and DR Congo’s campaigns, with both sides on three points ahead of their late meeting yesterday.
From the opening whistle yesterday, it was a tight contest, with both sides aware that the match was a must-win. Benin showed first intent in the 14th minute.
From a set piece, Junior Olaïtan delivered into the area where Yohan Roche rose at the centre of the box, but his header drifted high and wide to the left. Botswana answered five minutes later.
Kabelo Seakanyeng slipped Tumisang Orebonye through, and from inside the box Orebonye met the ball cleanly with his right foot.
Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou stood his ground to block at close range. Moments later, Botswana pressed again.
Seakanyeng crossed from the right, picking out Orebonye in the middle, but his right-footed effort from the centre of the area was once more stopped by Dandjinou.
The deadlock was broken in the 27th minute. Defender Yohan Roche arrived in the box to meet Steve Mounié’s assist and struck with his right foot.
The ball took a deflection off Botswana defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, wrong-footing goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko and sending it into the high centre of the net to give Benin the lead.
Botswana nearly drew level before the break. In the 37th minute, Mothusi Johnson’s free kick beat the wall but struck the top left of the woodwork. Benin went into half-time leading 1–0.
Benin threatened early in the second half. In the 48th minute, Yohan Roche swung a cross into the area for Steve Mounié, whose header from the centre of the box was held by Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko. Benin went close again on 65 minutes.
Tamimou Ouorou combined neatly with Dodo Dokou before striking left-footed from the middle of the box, but Phoko got down well to save low at his left post. Botswana’s reply came in the 75th minute.
Kabelo Seakanyeng picked out Mothusi Cooper, who tried his luck with a right-footed effort from outside the area, only to send it high and wide to the right.
