AFCON 2025 (Group D)
Results
| Team | 1st Half | 2nd Half | Goals | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benin | 1 | 0 | 1 | Win |
| Botswana | 0 | 0 | 0 | Loss |
Benin recorded their first victory of the 2025 AFCON championship.
A hard-fought 1-0 victory over Botswana Zebras gave the Squirrels the much-needed win at the Stade Olympique De Rabat on Saturday afternoon.
Yohan Roche scored the all-important goal for Benin in the 28th minute during the duel officiated by Ugandan Shamirah Nabadda.
Roche, who plies his trade at ACS Petrolul in Romania, executed a wonder chip over the goalkeeper Goitseone Chichima Phoko inside the goal area after being set up by Lorient’s Tosin Aiyegun.
Earlier in the opening minutes, Ugandan referee Shamirah Nabadda had cancelled a would-be Benin opener from skipper Steve Mounie following an offside call by the first assistant Diana Chikotseha from Zambia.
Botswana’s Lebogang Ditsele got cautioned for a foul on the stroke of halftime.
Benin would have doubled their goal tally but Steve Mounie failed to beat Phoko from close range in the 68th minute after the Jwaneng Galaxy goalkeeper had spilled the ball in his path.
Francisco Dodo Abdel Dodji Dokou blasted over from close range in the added minutes to deny Benin the second goal.
Roche was named as man of the match with the trophy handed over by Ugandan, Saddam Bulega.
Benin had lost their opening game 0-1 to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) courtesy of Theo Bongonda’s 16th-minute strike.
Senegal won 3-0 over Botswana with Nicholas Jackon netting a brace, and Cherif Ndiaye added the other.
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | Pts | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Senegal | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 |  |
| 2 |  DR Congo | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |  |
| 3 | Benin | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | Botswana | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | -4 | 0 | |
The second defeat for Botswana spells doom for the Zebra, who are eliminated from the championship, even with a game to play against the Democratic Republic of Congo
Senegal takes on DRC for the two countries’ respective second games on Saturday evening.
Team Line Ups:
Benin XI: Marcel Dandjinou (G.K), Tamimou Ouorou, Yohan Roche, Olivier Jacques Aime Verdon, Hassane Imourane, Steve Mounie (Captain), Tosin Aiyegun, Mohamed Tijani, Sessi Octave D’Almeida, Ishola Junior Olaitan, Francisco Dodo Abdel Dodji Dokou
Subs: Rodrigue Fassinou, Samadou Attidjikou, Matteo Alrich Ahlinvi, Abdoul Moumini, David Kiki, Franck Allagbe Owolabi, Rodolfo Aloko, Jodel Harold Oluwafemi Dossou, Kossi Rodrigue,Dinho Romaric Amoussou, Adebiyi Obassa, Olatoundji Tessilimi, Charlemagne Azongnitode, Gislain Ahoudo, Adam Akimey
Head coach: Willi Rohr Gernot (France)
Botswana XI: Goitseone Chichima Phoko (G.K), Thatayaone G. Ditlhokwe (Captain), Mosha Gaolaolwe, Alford Velaphi, Gape Edwin Mohutsiwa, Kabelo Seakanyeng, Omaatla Kebatho, Johnson Mothusi, Lebogang Ditsele, Losika Ratshukudu
Subs: Kabelo Dambe (G.K), Kebonyemodisa, Olebogeng Ramotse, Thabang Vicent Sesinyi, Boy Segolame, Godiraone Modingwane, Mothusi Cooper, Keeagile Kgosipula, Thatayaone Witness Kgamanyane, Chicco Molefe, Tebogo Kopelang, Thabo Maponda, Gilbert Baruti, Monty Agang Enosa, Shanganani Ngada
Head coach: Morena Cuthbert Ramoreboli (South Africa)
Match officials:
- Center Referee: Shamirah Nabadda (Uganda)
- Assistant Referee 1: Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)
- Assistant Referee 2: Carine Atezambong Fomo (Cameroon)
- Fourth official: Clement Franklin Kpan (Cote D’Ivoire)
- Commissioner: Hamza El Hajoui (Morocco)
- General coordinator: Jules Karangwa (Rwanda)
- Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Pierre Ghislain Atcho (Gabon)
- Assistant Video Assistant Referee (AVAR): Letticia Antonella Viana (Switzerland)