Senegal vs Botswana: The Teranga Lions beat Botswana 3–0 in Tangier on Tuesday to start their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 campaign in style.
Nicolas Jackson’s amazing performance in front of goal and Cherif Ndiaye’s late finish gave Senegal a big win in their opening game in this year’s tournament.
The Senegal vs Botswana contest was played amid torrential rain at the Grand Stade de Tanger, but the weather did little to dampen Senegal’s attacking intentions or their fans’ belief in their ability to lift the trophy come February. Senegal dominated the proceedings and kept their impressive tradition of strong starts in AFCON tournaments going.
Senegal vs Botswana
It was clear from the first whistle of Senegal vs Botswana that Senegal wanted to take full control of the game. The Teranga Lions, who won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 and are considered among the title contenders again in 2025, kept pushing forward, trying to break through Botswana’s defense with quick passing and aggressive wing play.
Senegal had already tested Botswana’s goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko in the first few minutes, with Nicolas Jackson forcing him to make a smart early save. Senegal’s forward line, which included big names like Sadio Mané and Iliman Ndiaye, kept testing Botswana’s defense, pushing the Zebras deep into their own half.
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Botswana defended well early on, even though they were under a lot of pressure. They wanted to stop Senegal’s rhythm. But Senegal’s pressure finally paid off when they scored goal.
Jackson scored the first goal in the 40th minute of Senegal vs Botswana after a brilliant play on the left. Ismail Jakobs sent a perfect cross, and Jackson scored right away to break the tie and send the Senegal bench into a frenzy.
Second-Half Control and Jackson’s Brace
Senegal controlled the ball and continued to look for openings in the second half whereas Botswana absorbed the pressure. Jackson scored again just after the hour mark, thanks to the Lions’ patient build-up. Assisted by Ismaïla Sarr, Jackson danced around defenders and slotted home his second goal of the game — and his performance was emblematic of Senegal’s class difference on the night.
Jackson’s brace was the turning point in the Senegal vs Botswana match. His composed second finish showcased his quality as a lethal striker, and he would later be named Man of the Match for his contribution to Senegal’s convincing victory.
As Senegal vs Botswana entered stoppage time, coach Pape Thiaw made tactical substitutions, bringing on fresh legs to close out the match. Cherif Ndiaye, one of those substitutes, scored the final goal to seal the victory. Ndiaye scored Senegal’s third goal off a cross from Cheikh Sabalyst in stoppage time. This gave Senegal a 3–0 win and put them at the top of Group D on goal difference.
Botswana had some chances earlier in the game to ease the pressure, but the overwhelming volume of Senegal’s attack and quality final-third execution meant that the result was never truly in doubt after the break. Senegal had control of the ball, the field, and the speed of the game the whole time. Senegal controlled possession, territorial advantage, and the pace of play throughout the game.
Statistical Overview of Senegal vs Botswana
In Senegal vs Botswana, Senegal’s dominance was reflected in the statistics:
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Senegal recorded 28 shots on goal, with a significant proportion coming from inside the penalty area.
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Botswana managed very few threatening moments and failed to register a shot on target.
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Senegal’s control was steady throughout, with superior possession and pass completion rates.
These figures show how different the two teams were and how Senegal is one of the favorites to go far in the tournament.
Tactical Breakdown
When you look more closely at Senegal vs Botswana, you can see the tactical framework that helped Senegal do well:
- High Press and Possession Control: Senegal’s midfield and forwards pressed high, forcing turnovers that often led to chances to attack. Players like Sadio Mané and Iliman Ndiaye helped make sure there were many ways to move the ball forward.
- Wing Utilization: Attacking from the sides was a big part of the game, with crosses and cutbacks causing problems in Botswana’s penalty area, most notably Jackson’s goals.
- Defensive Discipline: Senegal had a lot of the ball, but when Botswana broke forward, their defense stayed strong, which kept them from being a real threat.
This tactical balance helped Senegal win on the field and set a good tone for the rest of their AFCON 2025 journey.
Individual Performances in Senegal vs Botswana
Football is mostly a team sport, but individual performances can make a big difference. In the game between Senegal and Botswana, several Senegalese players stood out:
Nicolas Jackson was clearly the best player for Senegal. His two goals set the stage for victory and showed that he can score crucial goals at the highest level.
Sadio Mane: Mane didn’t score, but he often threatened with runs and shots, which helped Senegal’s attack.
Cherif Ndiaye: Ndiaye’s goal to seal Senegal’s win was a fitting reward for his energetic performance off the bench.
Goitseone Phoko, the goalkeeper for Botswana, made great saves, especially in the first half, which kept the score from getting even worse.
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Fans and the Atmosphere
Heavy rain may have kept some fans from going to the Senegal vs Botswana game, but the Senegalese fans who were there made it a lively event. The fans in Tangier gave Senegal a unique home-away feel with drums, chants, and waves of yellow, green, and red flags. This kept the players energized throughout the match.
Botswana’s traveling fans, on the other hand, were smaller in number but still cheered on their players, who stayed focused despite the tough challenge from Senegal.
What the Result Means for Group D
The outcome of Senegal vs Botswana has immediate impact on the standings in Group D. Senegal is now at the top of the group on goal difference after the first round of games. This puts them in a good position as they get ready to play DR Congo next.
Botswana, on the other hand, will need to quickly get their act together if they want to have any chance of moving on from the group stage, which would be a first for the Zebras.
The strong win over Botswana sets a tone of confidence and determination for Senegal as they try to go far in the AFCON 2025 tournament. The Lions of Teranga have always done well in past tournaments, and they still have a team with both experienced players and young players who are full of energy. This could make them a strong contender for the title again.
Botswana will try to learn from the Senegal vs Botswana game. They have a good foundation to compete because they are tactically strong in some parts of the game, but they need to be more creative and threatening in front of goal if they want to make a difference in this competition.
Conclusion
In short, Senegal vs Botswana was a great start to Senegal’s AFCON 2025 campaign. Senegal’s 3–0 win, which included two goals from Nicolas Jackson and one from Cherif Ndiaye late in the game, showed that they are among the tournament’s favorites and sent a message to other teams in the competition.
As the Teranga Lions get ready for tougher challenges, this win will give them confidence and remind them of how good they are. Botswana, on the other hand, will try to bounce back in the best way possible in their quest for AFCON success.
