Yesterday, the highly anticipated Senegal started their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a straightforward 3-0 victory against Botswana thanks to two goals from Nicolas Jackson, while Nigeria’s Super Eagles had a more difficult first game against Tanzania before winning 2-1.
As the first round of group matches began in Morocco, frequently in pouring rain, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tunisia also won, according to AFP.
The Lions of Teranga easily defeated Botswana in their Group D opening match in Tangier, and Senegal, the 2022 champions, may pose the biggest challenge to Morocco’s aspirations of capturing the title at home.
Jackson, who is presently on loan from Chelsea to Bayern Munich, scored twice before halftime, and Cherif Ndiaye added the last goal in the closing minutes.
Given that Senegal is 119 spots ahead of Botswana in the world rankings, the result of the opening game of the tournament was expected for both sides.
As the teams took to the field at the 75,000-seat stadium—the largest by capacity of the nine being used in Morocco for the tournament—heavy rain met them.
Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye, and Sadio Mane—two-time African player of the year—all nearly broke the stalemate for Senegal until the first goal came on 40 minutes.
Jackson, who is based in Germany, and Ismail Jakobs, who was born in Germany, combined for the goal. Jakobs cut in from the left and pulled the pass back for Jackson to finish.
Just before the hour, Jackson doubled the lead thanks to a fluid midfield play that included crisp, fast passing. Cherif Ndiaye added the icing on the cake for Senegal by finishing deftly at the conclusion of yet another excellent team move.
“The players performed well. “We understand how crucial it is to get off to a strong start in a competition,” Senegal coach Pape Thiaw stated.
The boys’ intense desire for triumph was evident. They performed incredibly well.
Senegal and DR Congo, who defeated Benin 1-0 at Rabat’s Al Medina Stadium, are tied for third place in the group.
After the Benin defense failed to stop a long pass, Spartak Moscow’s Theo Bongonda scored the game-winning goal 16 minutes later. Earlier in the second half, Cedric Bakambu’s attempt was disallowed for offside.
Cruise to Tunisia
It was a really challenging game. “They are a really good side, but I didn’t really know anything about Benin,” Bongonda remarked.
If they defeat New Caledonia or Jamaica in a March play-off, DR Congo, who were semi-finalists in the previous Cup of Nations, would advance to the 2026 World Cup.
The teams will now rekindle their rivalry in Tangier on Saturday after Senegal defeated the Leopards to win their World Cup qualifying group. Benin and Botswana will try to open their accounts when they play each other on the same day.
Despite being inefficient in front of goal, Nigeria, the 2024 AFCON runners-up, got off to a winning start in Fes. Nigeria is in Morocco to make up for their World Cup qualifying failure.
One of the offenders was star striker Victor Osimhen, who had the opportunity to score a hat-trick with better finishing but was unable to do so.
Before center-back Semi Ajayi nodded in Alex Iwobi’s cross late in the first half to give the three-time African champions the lead, Akor Adams struck the crossbar.
Outsiders Tanzania’s Charles M’Mombwa tied the score shortly after halftime, but they were unable to build on it to win their first-ever AFCON match.
Rather, Nigeria’s blushes were saved by Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, the 2024 African player of the year, who scored a soaring shot from just outside the box to make it 2-1.
Nigeria will play their second match in Group C on Saturday against Tunisia, who won the group with ease after defeating Uganda 3-1 at the Rabat Olympic Stadium.
The star of the show was FC Copenhagen’s Elias Achouri, who scored twice for the 2004 winners after halftime. Denis Omedi scored a late consolation goal for Uganda, after Ellyes Skhiri had given them an early lead.
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