Will Benin repeat the rout? Prediction for the CAR vs Benin AFCON qualifying match
On Monday, November 16, 2026, at 17:00 EET, the fourth-round match of 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying (Group F) will take place at a neutral venue in Douala, Cameroon, as the stadium in Bangui has not been approved by CAF to host international matches. The CAR will nominally be the home side against Benin.
Four days earlier, on November 12 in Abidjan, Benin gave their opponents no chance, winning 4-1 and settling the contest before half-time with a 3-1 lead.
The CAR are in the midst of a deep slump, having lost 8 of their last 10 competitive matches. They sit bottom of the group with no points and a 2:8 goal difference. The arrival of new coach Kerkash, a Moroccan, has not yet plugged the team's defensive gaps, although captain Geoffrey Kondogbia and experienced forward Louis Mafouta, who scored in the first game, have returned to the squad.
The team's biggest problem is the lack of home advantage after the match was moved to Cameroon, along with the need to take risks and push forward to preserve even a theoretical chance of advancing from the group.
Benin, meanwhile, are enjoying a model qualifying campaign: 7 points from a possible 9, 5 unbeaten matches in AFCON qualifying and 7 goals scored in three rounds. In the first meeting with the CAR, Benin showed outstanding efficiency on the break, putting three goals past their opponents before half-time.
Up front, Aiyegun Tosin, Aloko and Olaitan stand out, making perfect use of the space behind the high defensive line.
The state of the group forces the CAR to open up and look for attacking chances through Kondogbia's individual skill and Mafouta's runs. Benin will be happy to concede possession, sit in a compact mid-block and launch lightning-fast counterattacks down the flanks through Tosin and Olaitan.
What should you bet on in this match?
The 4-1 rout just four days ago, 8 defeats for the CAR in their last 10 matches, a neutral venue in Douala and the Cheetahs' motivation to cement their place at the top of Group F. My prediction is a Benin win.
