Video: Senegal's Lions Open AFCON 2025 with a 3-0 Triumph Over Botswana
23 December 2025
Match overview
The Senegal national team opened their campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a comfortable 3-0 win over Botswana on Tuesday night, in the opening round of Group D.
Nicholas Jackson, Bayern Munich's on-loan forward from Chelsea, scored twice in the 40th and 58th minutes, while Sheriff Ndiaye added the third in stoppage time at 90.
Key moments
The opener came after Jackson received a quick ground pass from Ismail Jacobs from the left and finished with one touch.
The second arrived after a pass inside the penalty area from Ismaila Sarr, as he dribbled past two Botswana defenders before firing home.
The third followed a fast move and several passes that found Ndiaye inside the box for a direct finish.
Impact and next fixtures
Senegal dominated from start to finish, but spurned several clear chances, securing three points to sit atop Group D, which also includes DR Congo, who beat Benin 1-0 in the same round.
Coach Pape Thiou started with the same forward line—Sadio Mane, Ismaila Sarr, Iliman Ndiaye and Nicolas Jackson—before making substitutions as the result looked safe.
Botswana offered little in attack against Senegal's goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, with a largely one-sided affair as the Senegalese fired 28 shots, 17 on target.
In the next round, Senegal face DR Congo on Saturday, while Benin and Botswana meet in the same round.
Punchline 1: If football were a joke, Senegal just delivered the knockout—Botswana left in stitches.
Punchline 2: And if the ball had a passport, it would have stamped Senegal as 'cleared for takeoff' after that third goal.
