Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying | Group Stage

Oct 15, 2024 at 5pm UK

Stade Amahoro

Rwanda vs Benin

Match preview

Rwanda suffered a major setback in their bid to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as they were thrashed 3-0 by Benin in a friendly at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Friday.

Augsburg striker Steve Mounie opened the scoring in the seventh minute to set the hosts on their way, before Hassane Imourane and substitute Andreas Hountondji added further goals in the second half to complete an impressive victory.

Rwanda had started the campaign with two successive stalemates, including an impressive goalless draw against a star-studded Nigeria side in Kigali on 10 September.

Torsten Spittler's men have now failed to win any of their last 10 AFCON qualifiers, losing three and drawing seven since a 1-0 win over Mozambique in March 2021.

Rwanda, ranked 130th in the latest FIFA World Ranking, will be desperate to turn things around on Tuesday as they look to make only their second ever AFCON appearance, the first coming in 2004.

For Benin, Friday's victory was another step in the right direction under head coach Gernot Rohr, who has been tasked with leading the nation to their first AFCON since 2019, where they reached the quarter-finals.

The Cheetahs opened their qualifying campaign with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of three-time African champions Nigeria on 7 September, but successive wins over Libya and Rwanda have seen them move up to second in Group D, just one point off the summit.

Friday's result made it four wins from their last five matches in all competitions, including back-to-back victories over Rwanda and Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June.

Benin will be looking to build on their weekend performance and go into Tuesday's clash unbeaten in their last six matches against Rwanda, with four wins and two draws since a 1-0 defeat in October 2011.

Recent Performance

Rwanda Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:DDL

Rwanda form (all competitions):WLWDDL

Benin Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying form:LWW

Benin form (all competitions):LWWLWW

Injuries and suspensions

Rwanda

no sidelined plauyers

Benin

-- Junior Olaitan

Possible starting lineups

Rwanda possible starting lineup:

Ntwari; Niyomugabo, Niyigena, Mutsinzi, Ombolenga; Muhire, B Bizimana, Mugisha; G Mugisha, Kwizera, Nshuti

Benin possible starting lineup:

Dandjinou; Moumini, Hountondji, Tijani, Roche; D'Almeida, Imourane, Dossou; Dodo, Olaitan, Mounie