AFCON 2025: Senegal thrash Morena Ramoreboli’s Botswana as DR Congo edge Benin

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AFCON 2025: Senegal thrash Morena Ramoreboli’s Botswana as DR Congo edge Benin

Senegal lived up to the billing as one of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations favourites when they swept aside Botswana to begin their campaign with a 3-0 victory.

Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, currently on loan at Bayern Munich, was the toast for the Teranga Lions as he scored twice either side of the halves with Cherif Ndiaye adding gloss on the score line in stoppage time.

Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko was busy as soon as the game started, keeping out efforts from Pape Gueye and Jackson before he was called into action to stop a goal-bound ball from Sadio Mane’s header.

Nicolas Jackson with man of the match award.

After just 15 minutes, Phoko was on hand again to keep out Iliman Ndiaye’s shot before Jackson and Ismaila Sarr tested him.

Jackson too hot to handle for Botswana

As halftime approached, Senegal deservedly went ahead when Ismail Jakobs picked out Jackson unmarked in the box and the striker made no mistakes from eight yards out.

Senegal returned from the break with the same vigour and in the 58th minute, Sarr picked out Jackson and the Bayern striker showed great composure to shrug off his markers and slot home.

Morena Ramoreboli’s team, making their second AFCON appearance since their debut in 2012, did not offer any threat and their inexperience at this level told as they went further down when Cherif Ndiaye scored the third from Cheikh Sabaly’s pass in the 90th minute.

DR Congo silence Benin in thrilling contest

Senegal now lead Group D on goal difference but have three points, same as DR Congo, who beat Benin 1-0 in the early kick off.

DR Congo celebrate a goal against Benin.

Theo Bongonda scored the lone goal for the Congolese when he slotted into the bottom corner in the 16th minute and Cedric Bakambu thought he had netted the second when he powerfully headed home from Nathaniel Mbuku’s stunning cross.

However, after a VAR check, the goal was chopped off due to an offside in the build-up.

<!-- Author Start -->Joel Oliver<!-- Author End -->

Joel Oliver

Author

Joel Oliver is a seasoned multimedia sports journalist with a rich background in covering diverse football stories and events in South Africa and beyond.
His extensive coverage spans subjects touching on the PSL, with a focus on the Big Three (Orlando Pirates, Kaizer Chiefs & Mamelodi Sundowns), Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.

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