FOOTBALL – Striker Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Senegal got their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign off to a winning start with a comfortable 3-0 Group D victory over Botswana in Tangier yesterday.
Jackson converted Ismail Jakobs’ low cross to give his side the lead after 40 minutes as they broke the resistance of a stubborn Botswana, before showing quick feet from Ismaila Sarr’s pass to finish from close range just before the hour-mark.
Senegal, who won the 2021 edition of the Cup of Nations and are among the favourites again, overwhelmed their opponents with waves of attacks and added a third late on from Cherif Ndiaye, one of 28 efforts on the Botswana goal. Senegal head Group D on goal difference from the Democratic Republic of Congo after the opening round of games. The latter defeated Benin 1-0 yesterday.
Senegal missed several chances to claim a bigger victory but were also thwarted by some excellent goalkeeping from Botswana’s Goitseone Phoko.
Jackson, who is on loan at Bayern Munich from Chelsea this season, has now scored five goals in as many games for Senegal, having only netted one in his previous 20 before that.
Senegal took the game to Botswana from the off, but as the rain fell in the first half, their opponents put up a stubborn defensive wall.
It was finally broken when Jakobs’ low cross from the left was perfect for Jackson to side-foot into the net, leaving the exposed Phoko with no chance.
It was more of the same in the second period as Senegal remained on the front foot and when Sarr picked out Jackson six yards from the goal, the forward showed good control under pressure from several challenges before providing a neat finish.
He should have had a hat-trick when he created space for a shot from 15 yards but he blasted the ball over the crossbar.
Senegal did get a third goal in added time at the end of the game as substitute Ndiaye was fed in the box by Cheikh Sabaly and made no mistake with his finish.
The Democratic Republic of Congo got their campaign off to a winning start yesterday with a dominant performance against Benin.
Theo Bongonda netted the goal in the 16th minute, letting a long pass from defence bounce and reacting quickest as the Benin defence hesitated to volley the ball into the net.
He might have had a second 13 minutes later, side-footing towards the corner of the net but seeing his goalbound effort blocked by defender Olivier Verdon.
The Congolese, twice continental champions, did have the ball in the net two minutes into the second half as Cedric Bakambu easily headed home a pinpoint cross from Nathanael Mbuku, but after a lengthy VAR check it was ruled offside.
Bakambu also had a breakaway opportunity midway through the second half after a clever pull-down and burst through the middle but saw his effort deflected away for a corner.
Benin won a free kick in the 67th minute that Tamimou Ouorou blasted off target but spent most of the match defending before a breakaway in the last minute saw Aiyegun Tosin a whisker away from the equaliser as Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi managed to keep the ball out.
Benin are making their fifth appearance at the finals, but are still to win a match with five draws and 10 defeats since their 2004 debut.
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