Rwanda survived an onslaught from Benin to share the spoils in a 1-1 draw in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Friendship Stadium on Wednesday evening.
The Wasps got off to a flying start when Gilbert Mugisha broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, but Gernot Rohr's side went on to boss proceedings and wasted numerous opportunities before Steve Mounie eventually restored parity eight minutes from time.
Carlos Alos' team had to play the final 30 minutes with just 10 men after Hakim Sahabo received his marching orders for picking up a second yellow card.
Benin played some good football in the first half and looked by far the more dangerous team, but Rwanda had the first sniff at goal five minutes into the game when Medie Kagere dragged a shot wide of the far post from inside the box on the right.
The visitors would hit the front on 13 minutes, as Sahabo released Mugisha through on goal with a defence-splitting pass and the striker scored at the second attempt from a tight angle after his initial shot was saved by Saturnin Allagbe.
The Cheetahs looked to respond and Tosin Aiyegun forced Fiacre Ntwari into a sharp save with a header from close range from Jodel Dossou's cross in the 20th minute, before the striker hit a tame shot straight at the goalkeeper four minutes later after cutting back onto his right foot inside the area on the left.
The woodwork then came to the hosts' rescue on the half-hour mark when Kevin Muhire struck the crossbar from inside the box on the left, and the striker was denied by a brave save from Allagbe at his feet three minutes later after latching onto Kagere's long ball over the top.
The West Africans continued to push for an equaliser and Aiyegun drew a comfortable save out of Ntwari with a scuffed shot from the left side of the box on 36 minutes, while Junior Olaitan tested the keeper with a long-range strike two minutes later after cutting inside from the right.
Ntwari pulled off a neat save on 39 minutes as he got down well to deny Dossou from inside the area following good link-up play with Olaitan, and Jordan Adeoti squandered a fine chance in first-half stoppage time when he directed a free header well over the target from Aiyegun's cross on the left.
Benin threatened early in the second half when Ntwari was required to save a shot from Olaitan inside the box on 50 minutes, although Rwanda went close soon afterwards as Christian Ishimwe was allowed to carry the ball a long way before lining up a fierce shot from the edge of the box that was well saved by Allagbe.
The Cheetahs were given a lifeline on the hour mark when Sahabo was sent off for pulling back Dodo Dokou, which was his second bookable offence.
Khaled Adenon was just inches away from equalising on 66 minutes with a first-time shot from 20 yards out on the left that flew narrowly over the bar, and Aiyegun was wasteful as he failed to convert a free-kick from an unmarked position at the back post on 72 minutes.
Adenon somehow missed the target from close range with a downward header that bounced up over the goal on 77 minutes, and Mounie glanced a header wide of the left post from Dokou's cross on the right in the 80th minute.
However, the pressure finally told just two minutes later when Mounie lashed a volley home from 14 yards out after taking an exquisite touch to create space for himself inside the area.
It was all Benin in the closing stages and Stephane Sessegnon nearly completed the comeback win in the second minute of stoppage time as he forced Ntwari into a superb reaction save at close range from Jodel Dossou's cutback on the right.
Benin (0) 1 (Mounie 82')
Rwanda (1) 1 (Mugisha 13')
Benin: S. Allagbe, H. Imourane, C. Hountondji (D. Dokou 59'), K. Adenon, O. Verdon, D. Kiki, J. Olaitan (S. Sessegnon 59'), J. Adeoti (S. Mounie 71'), M. Ahlinvi (A. Chibozo 88') , J. Dossou, T. Aiyegun.
Rwanda: F. Ntwari, F. Omborenga, A. Mutsinzi, T. Manzi, E. Imanishimwe (C. Ishimwe 53'), D. Bizimana (A. Niyonzima 68'), Y. Rafael, H. Sahabo, K. Muhire (A. Rwatubyaye 68'), G. Mugisha (B. Mugisha 75'), M. Kagere (B. Mugenzi 68')