Benin earned their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) win as Yohan Roche’s deflected first-half strike sealed their first points of the 2025 tournament in Rabat.
Defender Roche exchanged a one-two with returning targetman Steve Mounie, who missed Benin’s opening defeat to DR Congo, before sending a looped finish from inside the box over goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko.
Roche’s goal made history for his country with their first victory inside normal time in their 16th Afcon match spread over five editions.
Botswana suffered a second defeat of the group stage but were unfortunate not to equalise when Mothusi Johnson bent a superb free-kick against the crossbar shortly after Roche’s goal.
Phoko made two fine saves after the break, pawing Tamimou Ouorou’s shot away and showing quick reflexes to intervene when another drive by the right-back took a heavy touch off Johnson.
Both teams play their final Group D matches on Tuesday (19:00 GMT), when Benin face Senegal in Tangier and Botswana meet DR Congo in Rabat.
Senegal and DR Congo, who each have three points, play their second games in the section when the group favourites meet in Tangier later on Saturday (15:00 GMT).
Cheetahs celebrate three points and history
Image source: Getty Images
Image caption: Roche scored his first competitive international goal on his 13th Afcon appearance, including qualifying
Both coaches had voiced pride in their players’ performances following defeats to heavyweight opponents – Benin to the Leopards, Botswana against Senegal – in their tournament openers.
Benin went into that game depleted by injuries and suspensions but manager Gernot Rohr was able to restore several influential players for this crucial-looking contest, including national team record scorer and former Huddersfield Town striker Mounie, goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou, centre-back Mohamed Tijani and winger Junior Olaitan.
New Botswana coach Morena Ramoreboli, who was also aiming to guide the nation to a first Afcon win on their second appearance at the finals, brought in 19-year-old Cape Town Ubuntu forward Losika Ratshukudu as part of a Zebras team who might have led early on when Tumisang Orebonye lashed a close-range volley high over the crossbar.
Botswana showed signs of nerves during the initial exchanges but defended with discipline behind a high line until Mounie and Roche took advantage of a pocket of space on the edge of the box.
With Sessi D’Almeida frequently dictating play for Benin during the first half, South African tactician Ramoreboli made a triple change at the break in an unsuccessful attempt to shift the momentum.
However, it was only Phoko’s impressive display that denied Benin a wider margin of victory, with Dodo Dokou blazing a shot over the bar with only the goalkeeper to beat during the dying moments of the game.
With third place in the group potentially good enough for a place in the knockout stage, Benin will hope three points will see them through – as it did in 2019 when they reached the second round after drawing all three of their group-stage matches.
The Cheetahs went on to beat Morocco on penalties in the last 16 of that tournament following a 1-1 draw after extra time, reaching the quarter-finals without managing a victory in normal time.
Having made history by winning this match – and finally broken their Afcon duck – Rohr and his squad will hope there is more joy to come in Morocco.
