This afternoon of Wednesday, March 22 will open the 3rd day of the qualifications for the AFCON 2023. On the program, Benin-Rwanda (15h GMT) with the debut of Gernot Rohr on the bench of the Cheetahs, and Sierra Leone-Sao Tome and Principe (16h GMT).
Benin - Rwanda, the rebirth of the Cheetah?
Remain at the bottom of the hole forever or try to rise to believe in a chance to qualify for the AFCON 2023, which will be played in Ivory Coast in January 2024. This is what awaits Benin a few hours before receiving Rwanda at the General Mathieu Kérékou stadium in Cotonou (15h GMT). Last of the group L with 0 point, the Cheetahs must forget the two defeats during the first two games against Senegal (3-1) and Mozambique (0-1). The rebirth must take its starting point this afternoon with the debut of Gernot Rohr at the head of the Beninese selection. In a press conference, the Franco-German coach asked his players to go back to basics. "We know that we can't do complicated or complex things in forty-eight hours. So, I ask my players to play simple", advises the coach. He fears the defensive discipline of the Rwandan formation, especially during its confrontation with Senegal. "The defensive organization of this Rwandan team pleased me a lot. They were in 5-4-1 and Senegal had difficulty penetrating this defense. And offensively, against Mozambique, I saw some interesting things," he said. Before going to Rwanda next week, Benin has every interest in winning the three points at home.
📸 Les Guépards du Bénin étaient cet après-midi sur la pelouse du stade Général Mathieu Kérékou de Cotonou pour l'ultime séance d'entraînement avant la rencontre de ce mercredi face au Rwanda. #TotalEnergiesAFCONQ2023 #AllezLesGuépards pic.twitter.com/sxxD05OZ6q
— Bénin Football (@FootballBenin) March 21, 2023
Rwanda is not coming to play for a draw. The coach of the Amavubi did not hide his ambitions in front of journalists. "We came here to win Benin. We will play with our style and try to win", assured Carlos Alós Ferrer, in press conference. Aware of the status of favorite of Senegal, defending African champion, in this group, Rwanda has the weapons to fight for this second place. Knowing that Mozambique (2nd, 4 pts) will face twice the Lions of Senegal (1st, 6 pts), the plan of the Rwandans is to take the maximum of points during these 3rd and 4th days of the AFCON qualifications to be the runner-up of the teammates of Sadio Mané. And that, the captain Meddie Kagere understood. "We have the feeling that we can qualify and that's why we are here. We want to continue to believe," said the former player of the Tanzanian club Simba.
Sierra Leone - Sao Tome and Principe, to rectify things
It is also a duel between two nations in difficulty in the ranking of group A, after two days of qualification CAN 2023. But unlike the clash between Benin and Rwanda (17:00 GMT), this confrontation seems unbalanced. Sierra Leone (3rd, 1 pt) was beaten with difficulty by Nigeria (2-1) by opening the score and had hung Guinea-Bissau (2-2). With already 3 goals scored, the Sierra Leonean attack led by Musa Kamara and Jonathan Morsay could be very dangerous against a feverish Sao Tome and Principe (4th, 0 pt) defense. Sao Tome has already conceded 15 goals in only 2 games. Against Nigeria (1st, 6 pts), the note was very salty (0-10) and the same against Guinea-Bissau (5-1). Not at all reassuring.
