AFCON Qualifiers: Rwanda thrashed by Benin in Abidjan

Rwanda national football team were trounced by Benin 3-0 at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers held on Friday evening.

Frank Torsten’s side looked half-hearted throughout the match as they only managed one shot on goal whilst Benin had seven, and they were outdone in almost every aspect.

The game started off to an impressive pace, with Fitina Omborenga creating a big chance early in the game when Cedric Hountondji halted his cross. Steve Mounié opened the scoring in the seventh minute, heading home from a corner kick taken by Jodel Dossou.

It was a huge blow for Torsten when Thierry Manzi was stretchered off with a leg injury after colliding with Dokou Dodo in the 32nd minute, and the centre-back was then replaced by Clement Niyigena.

Torsten adjusted at halftime, with Taiba Mbonyumwami coming on for Innocent Nshuti. However, the changes didn’t go to plan as Gernot Rohr’s men doubled the lead 21 minutes into the second half, with substitute Andreas Hountondji scoring from the edge of the box.

Amavubi were dreadfully untidy and Mounié might have netted the third goal for his side, but the Augsburg striker fired it wide from close range shortly afterwards.

Hassane Imourane made it three with an excellent strike from a loose ball outside the ball in the 69th minute.

Ange Mutsinzi had an opportunity to pull one back for Rwanda through a freekick that was taken swiftly in stoppage time, though Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou stopped him from doing so with a fine save to keep a clean sheet for his side.

This was the first time Amavubi lost by three goals or more since 11 November 2021 when they suffered a thrashing 3-0 defeat to Mali in the 2022 World Cup Qualifiers at Kigali Pele Stadium.

Rwanda sit in third spot with two points after three matches of Group D’s AFCON Qualifiers. They will be back in the action, tussling it out with Benin at Amahoro Stadium on 15 October 2024 as they embark on return games.