Leon Klakla believes Benin have the quality to overcome Central African Republic and strengthen their position in the race to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Guepards face Central African Republic on Thursday, 12 November 2026, in the third round of qualifying, with the Benin coach confident Gernot Rohr’s side have the necessary resources to negotiate the two-match series successfully.
Klakla, a football coach who holds a Licence B qualification, highlighted Benin’s squad and their performances in the opening rounds of Group F as reasons for his optimism. He considers the fixture a significant point in the team’s qualifying campaign.
Benin’s positive start
Benin began their campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Burkina Faso before beating Mauritania 2-1. Those results have left the Guepards with four points from two matches, level at the top of Group F with Burkina Faso’s Etalons.
Central African Republic have endured a more difficult start. They have lost both of their matches and are yet to collect a point.
Klakla views Benin’s current momentum as a source of encouragement. He also praised the decisions made by Rohr and the attacking potential available to the German coach, believing the squad can use its offensive strength to trouble their opponents.
The form of the players selected, together with the national team’s recent results, has strengthened his belief that Benin can take control of the contest.
The first meeting will be played at 19:00 GMT on Thursday at Stade olympique Alassane Ouattara d’Ebimpe in Abidjan. The return match is scheduled for 16 November, giving the sides two opportunities to determine the outcome of the tie.
Klakla targets four points
Rather than focusing only on the opening match, Klakla has assessed what Benin could achieve across both fixtures. His target is four points from the two games, a return he believes would demonstrate the Guepards’ ability to make the most of their strengths while handling both the away assignment and the return encounter with discipline.
That forecast reflects his confidence in the quality within the Benin squad and in the progress shown during the first two rounds of qualifying.
Benin’s four-point total already gives them a strong position in Group F. A win against Central African Republic would allow the Guepards to consolidate their place at the top and move closer to securing a place at the final tournament of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The next step is for Rohr’s players to match the expectations placed on them when the two teams meet in Abidjan.