Gernot Rohr could not hide his satisfaction after Benin finally tasted victory at the Africa Cup of Nations, describing the 1-0 win over Botswana as a crucial step in his team’s growth.
Rohr watched his side make history in Rabat as Yohan Roche’s deflected first-half strike earned Benin their first-ever AFCON win and revived their chances of reaching the last 16. The response came just days after a disappointing opening loss to DR Congo, making the reaction even more meaningful for the German coach.
“This victory is important to us because it gives us a chance to qualify for the next round. We proved today that we have progressed defensively. We didn’t concede many opportunities and we recovered well, especially on the offense,” he said.
“I am happy for Yohan Roche who laughed at his mistake in the first match and who has just been elected Man of the match,” he added.
Benin face former champions Senegal in Tangier on December 30th, knowing that a positive result could secure their place in the knockout phase. Botswana will play DR Congo on the same day in Group D.
