Benin beats Botswana for maiden AFCON finals win
Yohan Roche scored a deflected winner as Benin claimed a first victory for his nation at the Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 1-0 Group D success against Botswana in Rabat.
Benin took the lead in the 28th minute when Roche played a one-two in the box with captain Steve Mounie and his shot from 10 yards took a wicked deflection off a defender and into the net.
Benin finally celebrated a victory at the continental finals at the 16th attempt after its debut in 2004, and despite the fact it was a quarter-finalist in 2019. It also has five draws to go with 10 defeats.
Botswana offered little going forward, although Mothusi Johnson struck the crossbar with a curling free-kick that beat the goalkeeper but not the frame of the goal.
Benin had several chances to add to its score, but Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko made an excellent low stop to deny Tamimou Ouorou.
Dodo Dokou then worked an excellent shooting chance 12 yards from goal in stoppage-time at the end of the game but fired over the bar with the goal gaping.
Botswana become the second team, after Benin, to lose its first five Africa Cup of Nations matches after three defeats on debut in 2012 and an opening 3-0 loss to Senegal this year.
It will meet DR Congo in its final pool game on Wednesday (AEDT), while Benin will face Senegal at the same time.
The top two teams in each pool, as well as the four best third-placed sides across the six groups, will qualify for the Round of 16.
