Preview: Benin vs Botswana – predictions, team news, line-ups

Two teams looking to revive their Africa Cup of Nations campaigns after opening defeats meet at the Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium on Saturday, as Benin and Botswana aim to secure vital points to keep their qualification hopes alive.

The former narrowly lost to DR Congo last time out, while the latter were on the receiving end of a 3-0 defeat to Senegal.

Match Preview

Despite entering the Nations Cup on a downward spiral, Benin certainly showed signs of life in the Group D curtain-raiser against DR Congo at the Al Barid Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.

However, the West Africans were unable to avoid a 1-0 defeat when Théo Bongonda scored in the 16th minute, which proved decisive after the video assistant referee ruled out Cédric Bakambu’s goal early in the second half for offside.

Gernot Rohr’s men have now lost three matches in a row for the first time since 2022, and more worryingly, they have failed to score during this run while conceding eight goals.

Aiming to avoid a fourth group stage elimination in five CAN outings, Les Guepards face an unavoidable scenario against Botswana: a defeat would almost certainly end their hopes of progression.

Benin face the lowest-ranked team in the group, who sit 46 places below them in the FIFA rankings, and will no doubt view Saturday’s clash in Rabat as their most realistic chance of claiming three points before wrapping up proceedings with a tough challenge against Senegal.

Botswana were beaten for a fourth consecutive match in the CAN group stage by tournament favorites Senegal, who won 3-0 at the Stade Ibn-Batouta on Tuesday.

Morena Ramoreboli’s men repelled everything thrown at them for the first 40 minutes, but finally collapsed when Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring five minutes from half-time.

The Zebras are now seven matches without a clean sheet and eight without a win since their inconsequential 2-0 victory over Somalia in their FIFA World Cup qualifier on 25 March.

Botswana find themselves bottom of Group D after the first round and now face an uphill task to reach the knockout stages as they return to the continental stage for only the second time and a first in 13 years.

The South Africans still have dark memories of their second group match of the 2012 Nations Cup, beaten 6-1 by Guinea, which remains their heaviest defeat in the history of the competition.

Benin Africa Cup of Nations form:

Benin form (all competitions):

Botswana Africa Cup of Nations Form:

Botswana form (all competitions):

Team News

© Iconsport / BackpagePix

Junior Olaitan, Steve Mounie, Andreas Hountondji, Mohamed Tijani and Marcel Dandjinou return from suspension this weekend, strengthening the Benin team’s options.

Mounie and Hountondji are expected to start, with the latter set to make his 20th national appearance, two and a half years after his debut.

After recording 14 saves, Goitseone Phoko comes out of his first CAN outing on a good note and should start again with a vengeance.

No active player has scored more goals in Botswana than Kabelo Seakanyeng, but his 18-month absence has the team looking for other sources of attacking inspiration.

Benin possible starting lineup:

Danjinou; Tijani, Verdon, Roche, Moumini; Ouorou, Dodo, Imourane, Kiki; Mounie, Olaitan

Botswana’s possible starting lineup:

The goat; Johnson, Heritages, Galaolwe, Velaphi; Cereal; In meditation, Motor, Cooper, Orebonye; They are people

We say: Benin 1-0 Botswana

After the opening losses, both teams will view Saturday’s match as a must-win.

Benin will have a strengthened squad with several key returning players available, which should tip the scales in their favor, pointing to a narrow victory for the West Africans.

For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.