Senegal have made a winning start to their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign, recording their sixth consecutive opening-match victory with a comfortable 3-0 win over Botswana at the Grand Stade de Tanger on Tuesday.
Nicolas Jackson scored a brace while substitute Cherif Ndiaye added a late third goal, securing all three points for Pape Thiaw’s side in a match they dominated from start to finish.
The Lions of Teranga asserted control from the beginning of the game, pinning Botswana back for long spells, but a lack of cutting edge initially kept the contest scoreless. Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko produced an inspired first-half display, making seven saves before the break to frustrate Senegal’s attacking stars and keep the Zebras in the game.
However, Senegal’s pressure eventually told five minutes before halftime. Ismail Jakobs delivered a precise pass into the box for Jackson, who struck a first-time effort low into the corner to finally beat Phoko and give Senegal a deserved lead.
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The dominance continued after the restart, although Botswana showed more defensive resilience to limit clear chances. Nonetheless, a costly mistake in midfield proved decisive in the 58th minute. Senegal capitalised quickly, working the ball forward before Ismaila Sarr picked out Jackson, who displayed fine control and composure to slot home his second goal of the night and double the advantage.
Sadio Mané and Sarr both went close to adding to the scoreline, but Phoko continued to impress, denying Senegal on several occasions. The Botswana goalkeeper finished the game with an outstanding 14 saves, but he could not prevent Cherif Ndiaye from adding a third in the dying minutes of the game.
The victory sees Senegal begin their campaign on a strong note ahead of a crucial clash with DR Congo, who also opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over Benin Republic. Botswana, meanwhile, will look to bounce back when they face Benin in their next group encounter, with both sides still searching for their first points of the tournament.
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