Benin blow away chance to bloom

The winless minnows are left undone by their goalkeeper Djidonou's twin mistakes and forced to share a point with fellow underdogs Mozambique after taking a 2-0 lead.

Goncalves Fumo of Mozambique, right, is challenged by Romuald Boco during their game at the Ombaka stadium in Benguela.

Benin blew a 2-0 lead and a golden chance to win their first ever match at the African Cup of Nations when they were held to a 2-2 draw by fellow underdogs Mozambique. Benin went 2-0 up in just over 20 minutes but paid dearly for two goalkeeping mistakes against opponents who were also hoping to break their duck at the tournament. Benin, playing in the tournament for the third time, had previously played six matches and lost them all while Mozambique, making their fourth appearance, had managed one point from nine outings. Benin took a 14th-minute lead in the Group C match with a penalty won and converted by Razak Omotoyossi, who was tripped after rounding the Mozambique goalkeeper Kampango. They went further ahead seven minutes later when the defender Dario Khan turned an attempted clearance into his own net after neat footwork from Stephane Sessegnon.

Mozambique reduced the deficit before the half hour after more poor defending. The Benin goalkeeper Yoann Djidonou came too far off his line at a corner, missed the ball which bounced off the back of a defender and fell to Miro, who scored with a looping header. The equaliser followed an even bigger blunder by Djidonou in the 54th minute when the goalkeeper charged out of his area and kicked the ball into touch. Mozambique took the throw-in quickly and the ball found Goncalves Fumo, who scored with Djidonou still out of his goal. * Reuters

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