AFCON AFCON 2023 Qualifier: Rohr Unhappy Not To Win Against Rwanda

Gernot Rohr, the Franco-German coach of the Benin national team, says he was unhappy not to get off to a winning start as the team rallied from behind to tie 1-1 with Rwanda on Match Day Three of the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Rohr, who previously coached the Nigerian Super Eagles, took over as coach of the Benin Squirrels last month, and this was his first competitive encounter in charge.

Steve Mounie came off the bench to score a late equalizer for the Beninese, who were pushed on by a raucous home crowd at the Stade de l’Amitié in Cotonou. Gilbert Mugisha had given Rwanda the lead in the first half.

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After Hakim Sahabo was sent off for Rwanda on the hour mark, Benin had a one-man advantage for the final half hour of the game.

Rohr believes his team should have won on the balance of chances.

“We are extremely disappointed with the result., but what I liked was the behavior of the team.

‘We had many clear chances but we did not score.

“We will analyze all of this on video, because I still wonder how we could not score a second goal.

“We ended up with seven offensive players. We are disappointed because we did not win,” the tactician said.

He went on to say that he is thrilled with the team’s youthful players and that he is convinced they will win the rematch in four days.

However, Rwanda’s Carlos Alos Ferrer bemoaned his team’s red card and feels they might have won with full complements.

“I am not happy with the result because I think if we played 11 versus 11, we would have been better and we could take the three points.

“When we lost one player, it was difficult for us.

“We knew that Benin is a very physical team when playing crosses with very good strikers and it was not easy,” Rwanda’s Carlos Alos Ferrer said.

He added; “But the point is good for us, we are still above Benin and we will try to do better at home.

“I want to congratulate the players. I am really proud of them they worked hard and did what I wanted.”

Veteran forward Mounie preserved a point for the home side with a late goal. He picked a loose ball inside the box in the 82nd minute before powering a volley past keeper Fiacre Ntwari.

With the result, Rwanda remain third in Group D with two points from back to back draws while Benin picked their first point after losing their first two games.


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