Rwanda head coach Torsten Spittler insists his players let him down after failing to stick to his tactics during Friday’s 3-0 defeat to Benin in an AFCON 2025 qualifying match held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Spittler revealed that he had taught his players how to deal with Benin's long balls during training sessions but it all fell on deaf ear when striker Steve Mounie scored the opening goal within just five minutes of action. We had some good ideas on how to defend these long balls against their number 9 (Steve Mounie) because he is the guy always receiving such balls. I told my boys not to concede corner but sometimes you cannot. At times, you need a bit of luck and today we didn't have it, Spittler told the press in a post-match interview. ALSO READ: AFCON 2025 Qualifiers: Improved Rwanda hold Super Eagles in Kigali Mounie is always in the right position, he is such a good player. Often, you can't defend against him. We knew the danger; we knew they would pass a lot of long balls to him...we tried to avoid long balls. Unfortunately, we were 1-0 down after 5 minutes,” he added. “We tried hard but there was lots of quality in the Benin team. It was just not our day. On his part, Benin coach Gernot Rohr indicated that they used Mounie as a target man and the focal point to creates scoring opportunities for his teammates. For some time now, if you watch our matches, we don't necessarily try to possess the ball. We are more vertical with a center forward who weighs on the opposing defense. And that allows wingers like Junior Olaïtan, Jodel Dossou and Andréas Hountondji to also move and score, the German coach said. Benin will visit Rwanda at Amahoro Stadium on Tuesday, October 15, in the return and match day four fixture.
