Senegal Ease Past Botswana As Jackson Brace Leads AFCON Favourites To Routine Victory

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Senegal began their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a controlled 3-0 victory over Botswana at Grand Stade de Tanger, as Nicolas Jackson struck twice and substitute Cherif Ndiaye added a late goal, extending the Lions of Teranga’s unbeaten run in the tournament to 12 matches excluding penalty shoot-outs.

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winners continued their habit of strong starts, having now won their opening fixture at each of the past six editions, and they again avoided falling behind, while Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko made 14 saves yet could not prevent defeat for a team ranked 119 places lower by FIFA.

Jackson threatened immediately, racing clear inside three minutes before Phoko blocked a one-on-one chance, and further pressure followed as Sadio Mane and Iliman Ndiaye both went close, before Ismail Jakobs cut the ball back from the left on 40 minutes for Jackson to guide a first-time finish into the net in Tangier.

Senegal tightened their grip after the interval when Jackson collected the ball on 58 minutes, shifted past two Botswana defenders with neat footwork and calmly slid a low shot beyond Phoko, though a hat-trick escaped the Bayern Munich striker when a later opportunity from around 10 yards flew over, and Phoko also denied Mane with another sharp save.

The match followed a familiar pattern for Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations, with control of territory supported by clinical finishing, whereas Botswana again depended heavily on Phoko, who had recorded the second-most saves of any goalkeeper during qualifying and was kept busy throughout this Group D encounter in Morocco.

Ndiaye, introduced from the bench, completed the scoring late in Tuesday’s contest with a composed finish that confirmed the three-goal margin, giving Senegal further confidence in Group D and underscoring the gap between the teams despite Botswana’s resistance and Phoko’s performance at Grand Stade de Tanger.

Senegal’s display, led by Jackson’s brace and supported by organised defending, underlined why the Lions of Teranga remain strong contenders after the 2021 title, while Botswana left the pitch with credit for discipline and goalkeeping resilience but no points from their opening Africa Cup of Nations fixture.