RABAT, Morocco (Dec. 27, 2025) (Interstat) — Benin opened its Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory over Botswana on Saturday at Stade Olympique de Rabat.

The match’s lone goal came in the 28th minute from Yohan Roche, securing the win for the home side. Botswana struggled to find an equalizer, managing zero goals against a disciplined Benin defense.

The physical contest featured four yellow cards, two for each team. Botswana’s Kabelo Seakanyeng was booked in the 13th minute, setting a tense tone. The result improved Benin’s tournament record to 1-0, while Botswana fell to 0-1. The final score was tighter than pre-game projections, which heavily favored Benin.