Benin have revived their Africa Cup of Nations campaign and snapped a long-running curse with a crucial 1-0 victory over Botswana in Rabat.
Roche's Deflected Strike Secures Historic Win
The decisive moment arrived just before the half-hour mark. Yohan Roche found space inside the penalty area and unleashed a shot that took a crucial deflection on its way into the net, handing Benin the lead. This goal proved enough to secure a result that had eluded them for years.
The victory was monumental for the Benin side, bringing an end to a dismal run of form in the competition. They had failed to win any of their previous 15 Afcon matches, a sequence stretching back years and comprising five draws and ten defeats.
Botswana's Resistance Falls Short
Botswana, needing a positive result after their opening group loss, pushed for an equaliser. Their best chance came when Mothusi Johnson's effort struck the crossbar, a let-off for the Benin defence. Despite this pressure, they could not find a breakthrough and suffered a second consecutive defeat.
This result confirms Botswana's elimination from Afcon 2025 at the group stage. For Benin, however, the mood was one of pure jubilation, captured in post-match celebrations with the tournament's official mascot, Assad.
What This Result Means for the Group
The three points from this match keep Benin's hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of Afcon 2025 firmly alive. The win provides a vital confidence boost and sets up a tense finale to the group phase.
For Botswana, the journey ends in Rabat. The team will now reflect on a tournament that promised more but ultimately delivered two narrow defeats, leaving them at the bottom of the group standings.
