Benin produced one of their most convincing performances of the CAF Africa Cup of Nations campaign, powering past Central African Republic 4-1 in a match that underlined their attacking quality and control in the final third. The scoreline tells the story of a side that grew stronger as the contest wore on, turning a competitive first half into a one-sided second period.

Match Overview

Benin set the tone early, pressing high and forcing Central African Republic into hurried clearances. The home side’s front line looked sharp from the opening minutes, and the breakthrough arrived when Steve Mounié rose powerfully to meet a delivery from the right. Central African Republic responded well, finding an equaliser through Louis Mafouta, whose movement in the box briefly silenced the Benin support.

Rather than retreat, Benin regained their rhythm before half-time. Jodel Dossou restored the lead with a composed finish after a quick exchange on the edge of the area, and from that point the momentum stayed with the hosts. In the second half, Benin’s superior fitness and sharper passing made the difference, with Mounié adding his second and Cebio Soukou rounding off the scoring late on.

Key Moments

• 12th minute: Steve Mounié opens the scoring with a strong header, capping a bright start from Benin.
• 27th minute: Louis Mafouta equalises for Central African Republic after a rare spell of pressure.
• 41st minute: Jodel Dossou finishes calmly to put Benin back in front before the break.
• 63rd minute: Mounié strikes again, finishing a flowing move that stretched the visiting defence.
• 84th minute: Cebio Soukou completes the scoring with a low finish as Central African Republic ran out of legs.

Tactical Story

Benin’s approach was built on width and aggressive pressing. Their full-backs pushed high, allowing the wide forwards to drift inside and create overloads against Central African Republic’s back line. The midfield trio kept the ball moving quickly, and Benin repeatedly won second balls in dangerous areas. That control limited Central African Republic’s ability to build sustained attacks, even though Mafouta’s equaliser showed the visitors carried a genuine counter-attacking threat.

Central African Republic defended in a compact block for long spells, but they struggled to close the space between midfield and defence once Benin switched play. The second half became increasingly stretched, and Benin’s substitutes helped maintain the tempo. By the final 20 minutes, the hosts were finding gaps almost at will.

Standout Players

Mounié was the standout performer, leading the line with two goals and a constant physical presence. Dossou’s energy and direct running caused problems throughout, while Soukou’s late goal capped a strong cameo. For Central African Republic, Mafouta was the brightest attacking outlet and took his goal well, but the visitors lacked the defensive solidity to contain Benin’s waves of pressure.

What the Result Means

The 4-1 win gives Benin a significant boost in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations standings and reinforces their reputation as a team capable of scoring freely when their attacking players click. Three points and a strong goal difference are valuable at this stage of the competition. For Central African Republic, the result is a reminder of the work needed defensively, though Mafouta’s goal offers a positive note to build on in their next fixture.