…Senegal among top contenders for title
Senegal will open their Group D campaign at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday when they face Botswana at the Grand Stade de Tanger at 4 pm, with the West Africans aiming to underline their status as one of the tournament favourites, Bold Sports reports.
It will be the first meeting between the two sides at the AFCON finals, although they have crossed paths before in qualification. Senegal won both encounters during the 2015 qualifying campaign, a group that also included Tunisia and Egypt, as Botswana finished fourth.
Botswana are back on the continental stage for the first time since 2012, when they made their AFCON debut. That maiden appearance proved difficult, with defeats to Ghana, Guinea and Mali, and the Zebras are still searching for their first-ever victory at the finals.
Senegal arrive in Morocco with a strong record at AFCON. This is their 18th appearance and sixth consecutive finals, with the Teranga Lions having lifted the trophy in 2021 after finishing runners-up in 2002 and 2019. They have won their opening match at each of their last five tournaments and have lost just twice in 17 AFCON openers.
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Defensive strength has been central to Senegal’s recent success. Since 2017, they have kept more clean sheets at AFCON than any other side, conceding only eight goals in 22 matches. They are unbeaten in their last seven group-stage games, allowing just one goal in that run.
Much of Senegal’s attacking threat once again comes from Sadio Mané, who is set to feature in his sixth AFCON finals. The forward finished qualifying as joint top scorer with Habib Diarra and has registered a goal involvement in seven of his last eight AFCON matches.
Botswana qualified through determination rather than goals, scoring just four times in the campaign but securing vital home and away wins over Cabo Verde. Under South African coach Morena Ramoreboli, the Zebras will hope their long-awaited return can yield a historic result, even as Senegal look to make a commanding start.
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