AFCON 2025: Benin Makes History

AFCON 2025: Benin Makes History

 Sampson Adedeji

Benin Republic recorded a historic milestone at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after claiming their first-ever victory at the tournament, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Yohan Roche etched his name into Beninese football folklore by scoring the decisive goal in a 1-0 win over Botswana on Tuesday in Rabat, handing the Cheetahs a memorable triumph on the continental stage.

The victory marked a long-awaited breakthrough for Benin, who first qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2004. Prior to this edition, the West Africans had featured in four AFCON tournaments without registering a single win.

Their most notable outing came in 2019, when they remarkably reached the quarterfinals despite drawing all their matches in regulation time. 

However, at the fifth attempt, Benin finally ended their winless run with a composed performance capped by Roche’s match-winning strike.

The result not only boosts Benin’s hopes at AFCON 2025 but also stands as a defining moment in the nation’s football history, signaling progress and renewed belief for the Cheetahs on Africa’s biggest stage.