Senegal overpower Botswana at AFCON
by KickOff Reporter · KickOffSenegal made a winning start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Group D with a 3-0 victory over Botswana on Tuesday evening.
Teranga Lions started Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ismaila Sarr and Iliman Ndiaye, while former Kaizer Chiefs defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe featured for the Zebras.
It was a busy opening five minutes for goalkeeper Phoko Goitseone, who showed sound reflexes to palm a pin-point header by Mane for a corner-kick.
Phoko provided more steal between the sticks after ten minutes as he dived down to the near side to steer a low shot from Ndiaye into touch.
Senegal’s pressured spell paid dividends five minutes to halftime as Jackson bundled in a low cross from close-range following a cross by Ismail Jakobs.
The Zebras continued to chase shadows early in the second stanza, with the pre-tournament favourites seeing a lot of the ball and no problem picking out each other.
As such, the Teranga Lions doubled the lead ten minutes in after working a turnover from midfield to the wide channels and into the box for Jackson to complete his brace.
Jackson could’ve registered a hat-trick in the closing quarter through a close-range attempt from a lay-off by Mane, but he blazed over with the goal in sight. The Bayern Munich striker didn’t finish the game and made way for Cherif Ndiaye in the final ten minutes with Pathe Ciss summoned on for Mane.
It was an inspired substitution as Ndiaye made a forward run to the area to get onto Cheikh Sabaly's cutback and tapped in their third in the last minute of regulation time.
Senegal were comfortable victors and jumped to the top of Group D, with the Zebras off to a losing start in only their second AFCON tournament ever.