Two prominent figures in Benin football expect the Guepards to beat Central African Republic in their Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying fixture in Abidjan on Thursday, 12 November.
Charles Titigoueti, president of the Atlantique Departmental Football League, and Licence B-qualified coach Klakla Leon are united in predicting a Benin victory, although they differ over the likely final score.
The match is the first of two meetings between the sides and will be played at the Felix-Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, with kick-off at 19:00 GMT, or 20:00 in Benin. The return fixture is scheduled for 16 November in Douala.
Benin enter the third round of Group F qualifying in a strong position. Gernot Rohr’s side began with a 1-1 draw away to Burkina Faso before beating Mauritania 2-1. Those results have left them with four points, level with Burkina Faso and one point ahead of Mauritania.
Central African Republic, meanwhile, have lost both of their opening matches and remain without a point. The Fauves therefore cannot afford another defeat as they attempt to revive their qualification campaign.
Titigoueti expects Benin to handle the first leg effectively rather than pursue an emphatic victory. His prediction is based on the belief that Rohr’s team have enough quality to control the contest and secure the result without necessarily turning the match into a one-sided display.
Klakla takes a broader view of the two-match contest and believes Benin can collect four points across the home-and-away fixtures. He is also more ambitious about the outcome of Thursday’s opening match and expects the Guepards to take a clear advantage into the return in Douala.
The forecasts underline the status Benin have been given against a Central African Republic side still searching for its first points in the group.
The betting odds also make Benin the clear favourites. The quoted price for a Benin victory is 1.47, while a draw is listed at 3.57 and a Central African Republic win at 6.59.