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WAFU CUP

BENIN MAKING WAVES AT WAFU CUP OF NATIONS

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After their sensational performance at the Africa Cup of Nations in July, Benin Republic has carried the form to the regional competition in West Africa.

A 93rd-minute winner from Jerome Bonou helped Benin beat Guinea 2-1 to qualify to the last eight of the WAFU Cup of Nations.

The Squirrels broke the deadlock in the highly charged game after 24 minutes when substitute Gaston Houngbedji buried a great build up play to give his side the lead.

Benin players celebrate the winning goal late into the match

 

The Syli Nationale responded with attacks of their own and where unlucky not to be on level terms when captain Jean Mouste’s fierce drive was parried away by the busy Sheyi Damilola in the Benin goal.

Jerome Bonou’s runs behind the Syli defence was a lot of concern for coach Kanfory Bangoura who introduced fresh legs to search for the equaliser.

Sekouba Camara found the back of the next midway through the second half but his celebrations were short-lived when the assistant flagged him offside.

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Horoya star Morlaye Sylla drew Guinea level three minutes from time with a sumptuous free kick nestling into the top corner to make it 1-1.

Benin rallied back to snatch a late winner through the exciting Bonou who hammered his right footed screamer past Moussa Camara to give the Squirrels a 2-1 victory.

The match the last for the first round of the tournament, which kicked off on September 28 with Senegal beating Guinea-Bissau.

The hosts will now face Benin on Thursday after Guinea-Bissau and Guinea play in the day’s first fixture.

Mauritania and Gambia face each other in the 17:00 GMT kick off on Friday before Burkina Faso and Ghana renew their rivalry.

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The Super Eagles of Nigeria will be hoping to bounce back when they play Cape Verde. Togo and Ivory Coast will battle in the late game.

The last round of matches in the quarters will feature Liberia against Niger before Sierra Leone have on Mali.

-CAF

Kunle Solaja is the author of landmark books on sports and journalism as well as being a multiple award-winning journalist and editor of long standing. He is easily Nigeria’s foremost soccer diarist and Africa's most capped FIFA World Cup journalist, having attended all FIFA World Cup finals from Italia ’90 to Qatar 2022. He was honoured at the Qatar 2022 World Cup by FIFA and AIPS.

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