AFCON 2025: Roche strikes as Benin sink Botswana to revive round of 16 hopes
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Reading Time: 4min | Sat. 27.12.25. | 18:00
Benin will now turn their focus to their final group fixture with renewed belief, while Botswana face the task of salvaging pride in their concluding match of the campaign.
With the contest marking the first-ever competitive meeting between the two nations, Benin and Botswana stepped onto the pitch determined to seize early bragging rights in a clash loaded with consequence at the ongoing AFCON 2025.
Both sides arrived nursing defeats from their respective opening fixtures, turning the encounter into a virtual elimination showdown, where anything short of victory would severely dent hopes of progression to the Round of 16.
The urgency was evident from the opening whistle, with neither side willing to leave their fate to chance.
In the end, it was Yohan Roche’s first-half strike that proved decisive as Benin held firm to claim a crucial 1-0 victory, bouncing back from their opening-day loss to DR Congo and reigniting their qualification ambitions.
The match burst into life at a frenetic pace, with both teams pressing aggressively in search of an early breakthrough.
Benin looked the sharper in the opening exchanges, pinning Botswana deep inside their own half within the first seven minutes.
Roche was the first to threaten, rising highest to meet a well-crafted delivery from Aiyegun Tosin, but the Petrolul Ploiești defender narrowly failed to guide his header on target, with goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko already beaten.
Moments later, Steve Mounié came close after shrugging off his marker, only to be denied by a crucial interception from Thatayaone Galejewe Ditlhokwe, the Al Ittihad Tripoli defender reacting swiftly to thwart the danger.
Botswana gradually settled and carved out their first meaningful opening in the 16th minute through Tumisang Orebonye, whose effort was cut out by a timely sliding challenge from Olivier Verdon, the Ludogorets defender once again showcasing his defensive awareness.
Benin continued to probe, with Sessi D’Almeida firing narrowly wide from distance, before Botswana squandered a golden opportunity in the 25th minute.
Losika Ratshukudu, unmarked inside the penalty area, blasted his effort well over the bar with goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou beaten. That miss proved costly. Just two minutes later, Benin struck.
Roche surged forward into unfamiliar attacking territory, skipped past his marker and unleashed a curling effort that beat Phoko cleanly, sending the Benin bench into celebration and decisively shifting the momentum.
Botswana responded bravely and came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 36th minute when Ratshukudu’s thunderous long-range strike rattled the upright after evading Dandjinou.
Both sides exchanged late chances before the break, with Junior Olaitan curling a sublime free kick inches over the bar in stoppage time as Benin headed into the interval holding a slender but valuable lead.
The second half resumed with similar intensity, Benin pushing to extend their advantage while Botswana committed bodies forward in search of parity.
Ten minutes after the restart, Tosin raced down the left flank and cut inside, only for Mosha Gaolaolwe to make a brave block that denied Benin a second goal.
Benin remained on the front foot, with Tamimou Ouorou testing Phoko twice in quick succession.
The Botswana goalkeeper was equal to both efforts, producing a full-stretch save followed by a desperate one-handed stop to keep his side in contention.
Botswana nearly found a breakthrough fifteen minutes from time as Ratshukudu combined neatly with Orebonye, but his effort drifted inches over the crossbar after beating the goalkeeper.
As Botswana pushed relentlessly in the closing stages, gaps began to open at the back.
Substitute Dodo Dokou nearly sealed the contest in stoppage time, weaving past defenders before smashing a volley against the woodwork.
The final whistle confirmed a vital victory for Benin, who revived their hopes of reaching the Round of 16, either by finishing second in Group D or as one of the four best third-placed teams.
For Botswana, the defeat marked a second consecutive loss, making them the first nation eliminated from the tournament with a game still to play, as they remain rooted at the bottom of the group standings.
Benin will now turn their focus to their final group fixture with renewed belief, while Botswana face the task of salvaging pride in their concluding match of the campaign.
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