Aiyegun Tosin of Benin challenged by Kabelo Seakanyeng of Botswana during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON match between Benin and Botswana at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on 27 December 2025 ©Samuel ShivambuBackpagePix
Saturday Dec 27, 2025. 15:35
Join AfricanFootball.com for LIVE updates from all 52 matches of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, as 24 teams battle for glory in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January.
Today’s matches:
14h30 – Benin v Botswana
17h00 – Senegal v DR Congo
19h30 – Uganda v Tanzania
22h00 – Nigeria v Tunisia
Updates:
46’ The second half is underway at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium as the Zebras look to draw level.
Half-time: Benin 1-0 Botswana. Roche’s strike in the 28th minute separates the two sides. The Zebras have had chances, but have failed to capitalise on them as Benin dominates possession.
37’ The Zebras’ nearly pull one back. Mothusi Johnson strikes a well hit free-kick, curling up and over the wall, and striking the bar in an unlucky miss with goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou beaten.
28’ GOAL! Yohan Roche nets for the Cheetahs to open the scoring. Steve Mounie plays him into the box and his shot takes a fortunate deflection, looping over the goalkeeper. Benin 1-0 Botswana.
26’ Tumisang Orebonye misses a huge chance to put the Zebras in front. He mishits a volley from in front of goal – off of the rebound from a set piece – sending it over the crossbar.
13’ Botswana’s Kabelo Seakanyeng receives an early yellow card for a careless challenge on Junior Olaitan.
4’ Goal disallowed. Benin have an opener denied as Steve Mounie mistimes his run, rendering his assist null from an offside position.
1’ We are underway at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Starting line-ups:
Botswana: G. Phoko, A. Velaphi, M. Gaolaolwe, T. Ditlhokwe, M. Johnson, G. Mohutsiwa, L. Ditsele, K. Seakanyeng, T. Orebonye, L. Ratshukudu, O. Kebatho
Benin: M. Dandjinou, Y. Roche, O. Verdon, M. Tijani, T. Ouorou D. Dokou, S. D’Almeida, I. Hassane, J. Olaitan, S. Mounie, O. Aiyegun
Should the Zebras lose, they will join Benin as the second country to lose all five of its first five matches at the AFCON finals.
Botswana has continued to struggle at the continental showpiece, losing its opening game 3-0 to Senegal to extend its losing streak at the tournament to four games. Similarly, Benin has lost its last 15 matches at the AFCON finals after falling 1-0 to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) in its opening fixture.
This will be the first ever meeting between the two countries.
2:02pm – Matchday two continues at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco as Botswana take on Benin at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Kick-off is at 2:30pm CAT.
