Afcon 2025: Sadio Mané equaliser keeps Senegal top of group and Benin get first win

2 months ago 68

Sadio Mané scored for Senegal as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Saturday and keep top place in Group D. Cédric Bakambu put DRC into the lead in the 61st minute, but Mané equalised eight minutes later with his 51st goal for his country, one of the favourites to win the tournament.

The match was cagey at times with both sides careful in their approach, although Nicolas Jackson had a couple of first-half chances for Senegal, coming close with short-range efforts.

The DRC defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka had the ball in the net midway through the first half but it was offside. They took the lead, however, with a sweeping move forward, with Théo Bongonda combining with Wan-Bissaka before firing a shot that Édouard Mendy could only parry into the path of Bakambu, who finished from close range.

Senegal’s 17-year-old substitute Ibrahim Mbaye set up the equaliser for Mane with a mazy run, although he profited from the DRC defender Arthur Masuaku suddenly stopping with a suspected achilles tendon injury. Mbaye’s shot was stopped by the goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi but fell for Mané to sweep home.

The two sides have four points from their opening two games and look set to progress into the last 16 with their final group games on Tuesday. Senegal are ahead of DRC on goal difference after they beat Botswana 3-0 in their opening fixture while DRC edged past Benin 1-0.

Yohan Roche scored a deflected winner as Benin claimed a first-ever victory at the Africa Cup of Nations finals with a 1-0 Group D success against Botswana in Rabat. Benin took the lead in the 28th minute when Roche played a one-two in the box with his captain, Steve Mounie, and his shot from 10 yards took a deflection off a defender and into the net.

Benin players, supporters and the Afcon mascot, Assad, pose for a photo after the historic win against Botswana

The top two teams in each pool, as well as the four best third-placed sides from the six groups, qualify for the round of 16.

Uche Ikpeazu scored a late equaliser before his teammate Allan Okello missed a penalty as Uganda had to settle for a 1-1 draw with their east African rivals Tanzania in their Group C game in Rabat. It is a first point for both sides in their pool after they opened their 2025 campaign with defeats by Tunisia and Nigeria respectively. Those two sides are in action later on Saturday in Fes.

Tanzania took the lead in the 59th minute when Simon Msuva converted a penalty after a handball in the box, but they were to be denied a first-ever win at the continental finals at the 11th attempt.

Ikpeazu’s diving header drew Uganda level, before they were awarded a penalty and the chance to win it late on, only for talisman Okello to put his spot-kick over the bar.