There was nothing remotely tense about Senegal's passage into the AFCON 2025 knockout rounds. The 2021 champions dismantled Benin 3-0 in Tangier on Tuesday night, sealing top spot in Group D with the kind of clinical display that makes rivals nervous.
But amid the celebrations, one image lingered: Kalidou Koulibaly walking off the pitch after receiving a straight red card on his 100th international appearance. That suspension could reshape everything for Pape Thiaw's side.
The night unfolded in typical Senegalese fashion
Abdoulaye Seck rose highest to meet Krépin Diatta's free-kick in the 39th minute, powering a header into the far corner. A VAR check for a potential handball delayed the celebrations, but the goal stood. The Israel-based defender earned man of the match honors and spoke with visible emotion afterward.
"I am delighted to have won the award, but for me it was a collective team effort that led to this," Seck told CAFOnline. "We knew from the start that the match was not going to be easy because Benin came out to fight. But the effort of everyone ensured that we secured this victory despite playing with ten men later on."
The second goal arrived on the hour. Sadio Mané, still every bit the talisman at 32, drifted down the left before sliding a precise cutback for Habib Diallo. The Metz striker did the rest, firing into the roof of the net.
Then came the twist
Koulibaly's challenge on Aiyegun Tosin initially drew a yellow card. After a lengthy VAR review, the referee upgraded it to red. The captain's tournament might already be over—at least for the Round of 16—and Senegal will need to reorganize their backline.
They still added a third. Ibrahim Mbaye won a penalty deep into added time, and substitute Cherif Ndiaye converted with composure. Final score: 3-0. Job done, mostly.
Pape Thiaw remains cautiously optimistic
"We faced a very determined Benin team, but we managed to achieve our main objective of finishing top of the group," the head coach told reporters. "Our next objective is to correct the mistakes we made before we go into the Round of 16 because on that stage there will be no room for errors."
Those words carry extra weight now. Koulibaly isn't just a defender for Senegal—he's their vocal leader, the one who organizes and demands. Losing him for even one match creates a gap that goes beyond tactics.
The numbers tell a story
Senegal produced an expected goals value of 1.84 from 10 shots. Benin managed just 0.61 from six attempts. Édouard Mendy was rarely troubled, though he did make one crucial save to tip Junior Olaïtan's free-kick over the bar after the red card.
More impressively, this was Senegal's 14th consecutive AFCON match without defeat—their longest unbeaten streak in the competition since records began in 2009-10.
What happens next
The Teranga Lions will face either Burkina Faso or Sudan in the Round of 16 on Saturday in Tangier. The draw is favorable. The squad depth is there. But the Koulibaly situation adds genuine uncertainty to a campaign that otherwise looks increasingly dominant.
Benin, despite the loss, progress as one of the best third-placed teams. They'll face Mohamed Salah's Egypt on Monday—a brutal reward for Gernot Rohr's men, who earned their first-ever AFCON victory just days ago against Botswana.
For Senegal, the question isn't whether they can advance. It's whether they can maintain this level without their captain when it matters most.