Rwanda earns 2-1 win over Benin Republic as Nigeria’s AFCON qualification lead narrows

The Amavubi of Rwanda secured a 2-1 victory over the Cheetahs of Benin Republic in Kigali on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, throughout a matchday 4 encounter within the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers. This essential win has tightened Group D, leaving Nigeria solely two factors away from third place.

After a 3-0 defeat to Benin Republic simply 4 days earlier in Cotonou, Rwanda got here into the return fixture decided to reply. Despite Benin taking the lead via Andreas Hountondji within the forty second minute following an help from Hassane Imourane, Rwanda rallied within the second half.

The Amavubi discovered an equalizer via Innocent Nshuti earlier than Djihad Bizimana coolly transformed a Seventy fifth-minute penalty to safe their first win of the qualification sequence.

Rwanda’s victory lifted them to 3rd place in Group D with 5 factors, only one level behind second-placed Benin Republic (6 factors). The Super Eagles of Nigeria stay high of the group with seven factors, however the hole has tightened with two matchdays remaining.

After coming back from a troublesome journey to Libya, the Super Eagles now shift focus to an important away fixture in opposition to Benin Republic in November. With the margins in Group D extraordinarily shut, each level might be essential as Nigeria appears to be like to safe qualification for the 2025 AFCON match.