AFCON 2025: Senegal Beat Botswana 3-0 as DR Congo Edge Benin
The Teranga Lions of Senegal made a strong start to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over Botswana in their Group D opener on Tuesday.
Senegal, the 2021 African champions, were the highest-scoring team on the opening day. Botswana, ranked 138th in the world and making only their second appearance at the tournament, struggled to cope with the Senegalese attack.
Star forward Sadio Mané failed to score and was later substituted, but Nicolas Jackson stole the show. The Bayern Munich striker opened the scoring in the 40th minute after a fine assist from Ismail Jakobs. Jackson added his second goal in the 58th minute, this time finishing a pass from Crystal Palace winger Ismaila Sarr.
Two substitutes combined late in the game to seal the win, as Chérif Ndiaye set up Sebaly to score Senegal’s third goal in the 90th minute.
Earlier in the day, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) recorded a narrow 1-0 victory over Benin in another Group D match.
Théo Bongonda scored the only goal of the game in the 16th minute, finishing from a cross by Arthur Masuaku. DR Congo held on to secure all three points in a physical and closely contested encounter.
The next Group D matches will be played on Saturday, December 27. Benin will face Botswana at 1:30 pm, while DR Congo will take on Senegal at 4:00 pm.
In Group C, Nigeria will play Tanzania at 6:30 pm in Fez, while Tunisia will face Uganda at 9:00 pm. Group E matches will see Burkina Faso play Equatorial Guinea at 1:30 pm, followed by Algeria against Sudan at 4:00 pm. In Group F, Ivory Coast will meet Mozambique at 6:30 pm, before Cameroon take on Gabon at 9:00 pm.
