Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has praised his charges for their response in the second half against Bafana Bafana.
The Cheetahs went 2-1 down against Bafana in their opening Group C encounter after two first-half goals from Percy Tau and Khuliso Mudau gave Hugo Broos' charges a two-goal cushion.
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Steve Mounie pulled a goal back for Benin with 20 minutes to go but South Africa held on to go top of the section.
Rohr says it was a game of two halves, as they could have equalised to 2-2 in the second stanza.
"Two different half times. In the first half-time it was a big domination of Bafana Bafana, the second time we had a better game, we could even come back to 2-2 draw but in the end we could not," Rohr told SABC Sport TV.
"But I was satisfied with my performance in the second-half because the reaction was very well. It's always difficult when you concede a goal in the first minute and the last minute of half-time," he said.
Benin will remain in Durban when they will come up against Lesotho, who will be at home at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday and the former Nigeria coach highlighted that Likuena will have more rest days than them but hopes their familiarity with the stadium will work in their favour.
"So the (first half) was not good but the reaction (was good). We'll play here again on Tuesday, I hope we can win a match," Rohr continued.
"We'll have a big game against Lesotho, they played already two days ago, so they have two days of rest more, of recovery but we have to work immediately to be ready for Tuesday at the same stadium but it can be an advantage because we know it now and I hope we will win the match," he added.
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