DR Congo took the initiative in this AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) Group D match, though play from both sides was initially a little untidy, and Cédric Bakambu’s wayward pass when well placed was evidence of this.
It would be eight minutes before Benin could get anywhere close to the Congolese goal, but Jodell Dossou’s effort didn’t trouble Lionel Mpasi.
But Congolese pressure soon told, as the Benin defence stopped when a hopeful ball was played into the area, allowing Théo Bongonda to nip in and place the ball into the bottom corner.
With Premier League duo Arthur Masuaku and Aaron Wan-Bissaka looking to get forward at every opportunity, Benin were finding it difficult to raid down the flanks, while the central areas were far too congested for them to make an impression.
However, they were almost level when Dodo Doku got his head to a free-kick, only to see the ball sail agonisingly wide. Shortly after, Bongonda nearly had a second before his goal-bound effort was deflected wide by Olivier Verdon.
Though Benin had ended the first half with a greater sense of purpose, they seemed to have finally caved for good within just two minutes of the restart, when Bakambu was left unmarked right in front of goal to power home a header from Nathaniël Mbuku’s stunning cross.
However, after a lengthy VAR delay, the goal was disallowed after Mbuku was adjudged offside in the build-up. A period of end-to-end play then followed, with little in the way of goalmouth action from either side as the clock ticked past the hour mark.
It would be 65 minutes before Benin’s first shot on target, coming from substitute Romaric Amoussou just a couple of minutes after his introduction.
Bakambu missed a golden chance when clean through, allowing Saturnin Allagbé to divert his effort wide, and the striker continued to torment the Benin back line thereafter.
With time running out, Tosin Aiyegun had three great chances for the Cheetahs, but the result means Benin still haven’t emerged victorious in an AFCON game inside 90 minutes (D5, L10), whilst the Congolese have now won each of their last six matches on foreign soil.
Flashscore man of the match: Cédric Bakambu (Democratic Republic of Congo)