By Updater
The Felix Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan hosts the 2026 World Cup qualifiers between Benin and Rwanda as both teams eye three maximum points at stake on Thursday evening.
Benin were made to host their matches in Abidjan after African football governing body ban ned their home ground, Stade de l’Amitie, from hosting FIFA World Cup qualifiers because it doesn’t meet the body’s standards.
Benin vs Rwanda Head to head
The last four games have between Rwanda and Benin have seen the latter winning once while three other meetings ended in a draw.
Rwanda is now a rejuvenated force under Spittler and they are playing some delightful football. The team has further been beefed by the likes of Samuel Gueulette and other new additions that had superb seasons in Europe.
Benin have lost two Key players namely Andreas Hountodji and central defender Olivier Verdon to injury but they still have some delightful players like skipper Steve Mounie, Sessi d’ Almeida, Junior Olaitan and others who can live up to the task.
Rwanda will bang their hopes on skipper Djihad Bizimana, midfielders Hakim Sahabo, winger Gilbert Mugisha and goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari who have all been exceptional in 2024.
On paper it looks like an even match as Rwanda play away from home but, looking at their current form, they can cause a surprise in Abidjan.
Rwanda lead Group C with four points while Benin are bottom of the group standings with 1 point. A win for Amavubi will cement their place at the top of the table after match day 3 while the same result would see Benin tied with Rwanda on points.
Players to watch
Both teams have great talents at their disposal and Times Sport takes a look at five players who could decide the outcome of the game.
Djihad Bizimana
The 2023/24 season has arguably been arguably the best for Djihad Bizimana since he started his professional career throughout his stay in Europe.
The FC Kryvbas midfielder played 28 out of team’s possbile 30 games in the Ukrainian Premier League scoring twice and providing one assist as his side finished 3rd to secure a Europa League spot.
Bizimana’s form has transcended into the national team as he has been one of the outstanding players. He was exceptional against Zimbabwe and South Africa before putting up a man of the match performance against Botswana and Madagascar in friendly games in which he netted a splendid long range effort.
The Amavubi skipper’s impeccable form could be the deciding factor of the game.
Steve Mounie
The 29-year-old striker remains the heart and soul of the Cheetahs and he is the player who gets the job done for them.
Mounie’s 6 goals and 2 assists in 32 games may not have been enough for French Ligue 1 side Stade Brestois this season but his national team numbers prove how important he is for Benin where he scored 14 goals in 45 games.
He scored against Rwanda in Cotonou in 2023 during the AFCON qualifiers and, if he is not handled well, he can cause havoc again.
Gilbert Mugisha
The APR forward has established himself as Amavubi’s live wire upfront and he has been clinical recently scoring three times in his last six appearances.
After a torrid first round of the 2023/24 season where he was sparingly used by APR manager Thierry Froger, Mugisha burst to life in February 2023 and he became the Frenchman’s best player before the season ended in May.
The Rayon Sports product netted six goals in the second round of the 2023/24 season and he promises to continue his fine scoring form in the national team jersey.
Sessi D’Almeida
A ball playing holding midfielder, D’Almeida is the engine of the Benin team as he dictates the pace of the game. He had a fine 2023/24 season with French Ligue 2 club FC Pau playing 33 games and scoring once.
D’Almeida is the fulcrum which the Benin team revolves around and if he flourishes, the team excels.
Hakim Sahabo
Most Benin fans can’t quickly forget Sahabo for his 40-yard cross-field pass to Gilbert Mugisha in the 12th minute for the opener when the two sides met in March 2023.
Sahabo has had a fruitful 2024 after being promoted to the Standard Liege senior team. He made 18 appearances for Liege in all competitions in the second round of 2023/24 and he looks more matured now.
One moment of brilliance from the 18-year-old attacking midfielder can decide the outcome of the game.
Fiacre Ntwari
The Amavubi goalkeeper will surely have good memories of playing against Benin because it was a game which brought him into limelight when TS Galaxy started to scout him.
Against Benin, in Cotonou on March 22, 2023, it was virtually Ntwari against the Cheetahs’ attack as he pulled as many as 10 saves to keep his side in the game which ended 1-1.
TS Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi unintentionally watched the game as he was flipping his DSTV channel and watching Ntwari’s impressive performance between the posts made him sign him.
Against the same opponent on Thursday, June 6, Ntwari will be aiming to go all out again and put up another man-of-the-match performance.
Rwanda aim for unbeaten run ahead of Benin test
Rwanda has had a bright start to the qualifying campaign and are leading Group C with four points having drawn with Zimbabwe and beaten South Africa 2-0. Benin are bottom of the group standings with a single point after losing to South Africa and drawing with Lesotho.
Amavubi have been in rich vein of form. They haven’t lost a single match since the arrival of German tactician Frank Thorsten Spittler, winning twice and recording two draws.
They also managed to score four goals while their defence haven’t conceded a single goal.
Meanwhile, Benin have not been impressive in their last four games, losing twice and drawing two games including their pulsating 2-2 draw with African Champions Cote d’Ivoire in an international friendly in March.
Gernot Rohr’s record as head coach of Benin has been nothing but ups and downs. His side has gone 16 consecutive games without a win across all competitions, losing nine and drawing seven times since a 4-0 friendly victory over Liberia on March 24, 2022.
Lucky van Rukundo