Benin backed to beat Central African Republic in 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier

Charles Titigoueti and Klakla Leon are both predicting victory for Benin when the Guepards face Central African Republic in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Thursday, 12 November.

The two Beninese football figures agree on the likely outcome, although they differ over the scoreline. Titigoueti is president of the Atlantic Department Football League, while Klakla is a coach who holds a Licence B qualification.

The Group F match will be played at the Felix-Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, with kick-off at 19:00 GMT (20:00 in Benin).

Gernot Rohr’s side go into the third round of qualifying in a strong position. Benin earned a 1-1 draw away to Burkina Faso before defeating Mauritania 2-1, leaving them with four points from their opening two matches.

The Etalons also have four points, while Mauritania’s Mourabitounes are one point behind Benin. Central African Republic, known as the Fauves, are bottom of the group without a point after suffering two defeats and cannot afford another setback.

The return fixture is scheduled for 16 November in Douala.

Titigoueti expects controlled Benin win

Titigoueti believes Benin have the quality to take charge of the contest and secure a win without necessarily producing a dominant display.

His prediction is for a measured success by the Guepards, reflecting his view that Rohr’s team should be able to manage the match effectively against opponents still searching for their first points.

Klakla takes a broader view of the double-header and predicts Benin will collect four points across the two games. He is more optimistic than Titigoueti about the outcome of the first meeting, backing the home side for a stronger result in Abidjan.

Both forecasts underline the status of Benin as favourites against Central African Republic, who are under pressure after their difficult start to the qualification campaign.

The match will be the first of two meetings between the teams in the third round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Benin will be seeking to strengthen its position alongside Burkina Faso at the top of Group F, while the Fauves need points to remain in contention.

Betting odds also place Benin as the clear favourite. The available prices list a Benin win at 1,47, a draw at 3,57 and a Central African Republic victory at 6,59.