Senegal announced their intentions for Africa Cup of Nations 2025 with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Botswana at the Grand Stade de Tanger on Tuesday, as Nicolas Jackson stole the show with a brilliant brace.
Jackson dominates despite early frustrations
The Bayern Munich forward, on loan from Chelsea, endured a frustrating opening period despite his team's territorial dominance. Jackson saw an early one-on-one opportunity denied by Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko, who would prove to be the busiest player on the pitch throughout the encounter.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 40th minute when Ismail Jakobs delivered a pinpoint cross from the left flank, and Jackson applied a composed first-time finish to give the Teranga Lions a deserved lead heading into half-time.
Senegal's clinical second-half display
The 2021 AFCON champions picked up where they left off after the restart, continuing to pin Botswana back in their own half. Jackson doubled his tally and Senegal's advantage in the 58th minute, latching onto Ismaila Sarr's incisive through ball before dancing past two defenders and finding the net with a confident strike.
The Bayern striker came agonizingly close to completing his hat-trick on several occasions, but a combination of wayward finishing and Phoko's heroics kept the scoreline at 2-0. Jackson was eventually withdrawn in the 78th minute to a standing ovation from the Senegalese faithful who had braved the heavy rainfall in Tangier.
Ndiaye seals comfortable victory
Substitute Cherif Ndiaye, who replaced Jackson, needed just twelve minutes on the pitch to make his mark. The forward swept home Cheikh Sabaly's cross from the right in the 90th minute to put the finishing touches on a professional display from Pape Thiaw's side.
Phoko's heroics prevent heavier defeat
While the scoreline reads 3-0, Botswana can take some consolation from goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko's outstanding individual performance. The shot-stopper made a remarkable string of saves to deny Jackson (twice), Sadio Mané (twice), and Iliman Ndiaye, preventing what could have been a far more emphatic defeat for the Zebras.
Tactical breakdown
Senegal's 4-2-3-1 formation provided the platform for their attacking dominance. Kalidou Koulibaly marshalled the defense with his customary authority, while the midfield axis of Idrissa Gueye and Pape Gueye controlled the tempo throughout. Mané's positioning between the lines created persistent problems for Botswana's five-man defensive setup.
The Zebras, managed by Belgian coach Paul Put, set up with defensive solidity as their priority but simply lacked the quality to threaten goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, who spent the evening as a mere spectator behind his dominant teammates.
Group D standings
Senegal top Group D on goal difference following DR Congo's 1-0 victory over Benin in the earlier kickoff. The Teranga Lions will face the Leopards on Saturday in what promises to be the group's decisive fixture.
For Botswana, making only their third AFCON appearance, the challenge now is to regroup and pick up points against Benin if they are to have any hope of progressing from the group stages.