SportsMall previews Tuesday's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Rwanda and Benin, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Rwanda And Benin They are set to resume action in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when they go head-to-head at the Amahoro National Stadium on Tuesday.
Wasps, who suffered their first defeat in two consecutive October clashes at the weekend, will be looking to impress the visitors and secure their first win of the campaign.
Competition preview
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Rwanda suffered a major blow in their quest to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as they were beaten 3-0 by Benin when the two nations clashed at the Stade Felix Houphoud-Boigny on Friday.
Augsburg striker Steve Mauney He opened the scoring in the seventh minute and put the hosts in front Hassan Imouren and alternate Andreas Hountondji Adding to the score in the second half sealed the victory.
Before that, Rwanda opened the campaign with two back-to-back stalemates, including a somewhat impressive goalless draw against a star-studded Nigeria side in Kigali on September 10.
Torsten SpitlerSince a 1-0 win against Mozambique in March 2021, they have failed to taste victory in any of their last 10 AFCON qualifiers, losing three and drawing seven.
Rwanda, ranked 130th in the latest FIFA world rankings, will be desperate to turn things around when they make their second AFCON appearance on Tuesday, having first featured in the spectacle back in 2004.
For Benin, Friday's win was another step in the right direction under the head coach Gernot RohrHe was 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 drubbing of three-time African champions Nigeria on September 7, but wins over Libya and Rwanda saw them move back into second place in Group D, one point clear of top spot.
With Friday's result, Benin have now won four of their last five matches in all competitions, including back-to-back wins against Rwanda and Nigeria in June's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Benin will look to pick up where they left off at the weekend with a 1-0 win over Rwanda in October 2011, claiming 4 wins and two draws in their last six games, going into Tuesday's clash unbeaten.
Rwanda Africa Cup of Nations Qualification Form:
Rwanda Format (All Matches):
Benin Africa Cup of Nations Qualification Form:
Ben's Form (All Matches):
Group messages
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For Rwanda, Thierry Mansi Felix Houphouet-Boigny suffered a first-half injury at Stade on Friday and the Al Ahly Tripoli man is set to sit out Tuesday's clash.
In his absence, the 23-year-old Clement is self-determinedA senior debutant in January 2022 should form the back four and come into the fold. Claude is a man, Give me success And Fidina Ombolenga.
above, Gilbert Mugisha, Zogia Gwisera And innocent friend We expect an unchanged midfield trio to lead Wasps' attack Kevin Muhire, Jihad is physical And good luck.
With his opener on Friday, Mouney now has 19 goals in 56 games for Benin and the 30-year-old, who made his debut in October 2015, should once again start in attack.
Through him to join the final third Jodal Dosou and 22 years old It is the youngest leaf When the back four Rachid Moumini, Cedric Hountonji, Mohamed Dijani And Johann Roche A second consecutive clean sheet should be kept.
Cece de Almeida Having started each of Benin's last nine games, the Apollon Limassol man should team up with Imurane and the 20-year-old. Doc Dodo In midfield.
Rwanda Probable Starting Lineup:
Brave; Nyomugaba, Nyikena, Mutsinji, Ombolenga; Muhire, B Pisimana, Mukisha; G Blessing, Hope, Friend
Ben's probable starting line-up:
Dandjinou; Moumini, Hountondji, Tijani, Roche; D'Almeida, Imourane, Dossou; Dodo, Olayton, Mauni
We say: Rwanda 0-2 Benin
After a stumbling qualifying campaign, Benin have turned things around in their last few games and will be looking to top the table on Tuesday. While Rwanda will have a positive reaction to Friday's defeat, Roar's men boast the firepower needed to get this one over the line and we'd like them to pull off another comfortable win.
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