Rwanda Upsets Benin Republic, Further Complicates Libya’s AFCON Group D Campaign.
In a surprising turn of events, Rwanda defeated the Cheetahs of Benin 2-1 at the Amahoro Stadium in Kigali during a crucial Group D AFCON qualifier on Tuesday. This victory has worsened Libya’s position in the group, while keeping Rwanda’s hopes alive for qualification.
The win puts Rwanda in third place with 5 points, adding further pressure on a struggling Libya, who sit at the bottom with just 1 point. Nigeria continues to lead the group with 7 points, having scored 4 goals without conceding any, while Benin remains second with 6 points, despite their defeat.
Rwanda dominated the match with a superior performance, registering 17 shots at goal compared to Benin’s 5, with 4 of those on target. The hosts also controlled possession, holding 66% of the ball, and completed 357 passes to Benin’s 197.
The match between Libya and Nigeria, scheduled for 8 pm on Tuesday in Benghazi, has been delisted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Nigeria had earlier withdrawn from the fixture, citing inhumane treatment of their team in Libya, leaving CAF’s Disciplinary Committee to investigate the situation. Reports suggest that Nigerian clubs had sent private jets to evacuate their players, but Libyan authorities refused to allow them to leave. A Tunisian pilot who transported the Nigerian team to Libya also claimed their flight was diverted under questionable orders from Libyan officials.
Historically, Benin has dominated Rwanda, winning five out of their previous eight meetings, while Rwanda has only managed one win, with two draws. However, this recent result throws a new dynamic into the group standings, complicating Benin’s path to qualification.
As Group D progresses, the remaining fixtures on 11th November will see Nigeria travel to Abidjan to face Benin, while Libya heads to Kigali to meet Rwanda. The final group matches are scheduled for 19th November, with Nigeria hosting Rwanda in Uyo and Benin travelling to Libya.
Libya faces an uphill battle, even if awarded the match against Nigeria. With only three games remaining, they can still achieve a maximum of 11 points but must win all their matches. Rwanda, on the other hand, remains in contention if they continue to produce unexpected results.
The fate of the group now lies in CAF’s hands, as they work to resolve the situation involving Nigeria and Libya, while the teams prepare for the final push towards qualification.
