Senegal seal top spot with a commanding 3-0 win over Benin

Match snapshot

Senegal sealed top spot in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco after a commanding 3-0 win over Benin in the final group-stage match.

The goals came from Abdoul Sek, Habib Diallo and Sherif Ndiaye (from a penalty) in the 38th, 62nd and 90+7 minutes of the game.

Sek opened the scoring with a powerful header from a set-piece cross, the goal confirmed after a VAR review.

Diallo put Benin away with the second, following a pass from Senegal's star Sadio Mane, before Ndiaye sealed the result with a late spot-kick.

The match also saw captain Kalidou Koulibaly sent off in the 71st minute after a harsh challenge on a Benin player.

Initially shown a yellow card, Koulibaly's dismissal was confirmed after VAR review, with the referee sending him off.

With this win, Senegal topped the group with 7 points, narrowly ahead of DR Congo who beat Botswana 3-0.

Benin advanced to the knockout stage as one of the best third-placed teams with 3 points and will face Egypt, group B leaders, in the next round.

Punchline 1: If football were a movie, that red card would be the cliffhanger—the crowd stayed on the edge waiting for the plot to unfold.

Punchline 2: And remember, timing is everything in football—VAR might steal the punchline, but the snacks at the stadium are still unbeatable.