Benin host Madagascar at Stade de l’Amitié this Thursday in the group J 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers looking to push to the third round in the qualifiers.
Benin are group J’s top team alongside Tanzania who are a goal difference higher on top of the home team here and are looking to outshine the East African side and proceed to the third round. Benin come into this on the back of a 1-0 defeat against Tanzania in their most recent qualifier last month.
Benin earlier beat Tanzania before the reverse match in the match ended in a 1-0. In the second fixture, Benin were held in a 1-1 draw at home against Congo DR. The two teams in this fixture met in the opener match and Benin took Madagascar down in a 1-0 victory.
Benin have been on a low scoring run but have managed to keep their goal safe in the same period. Michel Dussuyer’s side has only managed three goals so far with two of which have come from former Huddersfield Town star Steve Mounie and have only conceded twice.
Madagascar, on the other hand, are bottom with just one win and three defeats in the campaign having won only against Congo DR in a 1-0 victory last month. They come to this match on a poor record away on the road and a home match would favor them though this didn’t happen in the first group meeting.
Madagascar will go into this game following a 1-0 WC Qualifiers – Africa win vs DR Congo in their previous outing. The forward players for Madagascar have suffered from a shortage of goals but Njiva Rakotoharimalala scored against Congo DR in the opening minute of the match.
When the two teams met at Stade Municipal de Mahamasina Benin defeated Madagascar thanks to Steve Mounie’s goal.
Benin vs Madagascar head to head
Benin won in their previous encounter against Madagascar in a narrow 1-0 victory. Both sides have been on low scoring run in the group stage and we would bet on the same in this match.
- Madagascar 0-1 Benin 02/09/21
Home
- Benin 0-1 Tanzania
- Tanzania 0-1 Benin
- Benin 1-1 Congo DR
- Madagascar 0-1 Benin
- Sierra Leone 1-0 Benin
Away
- Madagascar 1-0 Congo DR
- Congo DR 2-0 Madagascar
- Tanzania 3-2 Madagascar
- Madagascar 0-1 Benin
- Madagascar 0-0 Niger
Benin team news
No injuries or suspensions but Marcel Dandjinou and Junior Olaitan are to make their international debuts.
Madagascar team news
No reported injuries in this camp and 24 players have been called for the matches in this international break.
Prediction and odds
- Benin to win
- Goals under 2.5
