Benin vs Senegal: Rohr Eyes Historic AFCON Knockout Qualification

German coach Gernot Rohr is on the brink of writing another chapter in Benin’s football history as the Cheetahs prepare to face Senegal in their final Group D clash at the Grand Stade de Tanger on 30 December.

Victory or even a draw could secure Benin’s passage to the AFCON 2025 Round of 16, marking only their second progression beyond the group stage after their famous quarter-final run in 2019.

Benin arrive at this decisive fixture buoyed by their first-ever AFCON win, a 1-0 triumph over Botswana, which followed an opening defeat to DR Congo. That victory ended a long wait, as the Cheetahs had gone 15 AFCON matches without a win in open play.

Rohr’s men now stand on the cusp of history, knowing that avoiding defeat against Senegal would be enough to advance.

The challenge is formidable. Senegal, unbeaten in their last eight matches against Benin, have dominated the head-to-head record with seven wins from nine encounters.

Their only AFCON meeting came in the 2019 quarter-finals, when Idrissa Gueye’s strike sent Senegal through at Benin’s expense. The Lions of Teranga, led by talisman Sadio Mané, remain one of the continent’s most consistent sides, unbeaten in 13 AFCON matches in open play since the 2019 final.

For Rohr, the stakes are personal as well as national. The veteran coach guided Benin to their historic quarter-final in 2019, and now seeks to repeat the feat by steering them into the knockout rounds once again.

His side has shown resilience, keeping three clean sheets in their last four group matches, and finding inspiration in players like Steve Mounié, who has been directly involved in four goals across his last five internationals, and Yohan Roche, scorer of the winner against Botswana.

Senegal, meanwhile, have already demonstrated their pedigree in Morocco. They opened with a commanding 3-0 win over Botswana before being held to a 1-1 draw by DR Congo.

Mané’s equaliser in that match took his AFCON tally to 10 goals, spread across five editions. With a defence that has conceded just seven goals in their last 21 AFCON matches, Senegal remain favourites to progress, needing only a draw to confirm their place in the last 16.

Benin’s record in final group matches is poor, with no wins and only one draw in four attempts. Yet Rohr’s men know that this is their chance to change the narrative.

A result against Senegal would not only secure progression but also mark a symbolic moment for a team long considered outsiders. For Rohr, it would be a second historic qualification, cementing his legacy as the architect of Benin’s greatest AFCON achievements.