Senegal’s eagerly awaited Africa Cup of Nations bid was highlighted by Nicolas Jackson’s 3-0 victory over Botswana on Tuesday, while Nigeria’s Super Eagles made their opening match against Tanzania harder by coming home with a 2-1 victory.
As Morocco’s first round of group games continued, often in torrential rain, Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of Congo both won.
Morocco’s chances of capturing the title on home soil are perhaps greatest, but Senegal, who won it in 2022, are in doubt. The Lions of Teranga defeated Botswana in their Group D opener in Tangier.
Jackson, who is currently a loanee at Chelsea’s Bayern Munich, scored either side of half-time, with Cherif Ndiaye completing the score late in the second half.
Given that Senegal is 119 places above Botswana in the world rankings, the outcome of both teams’ first match of the tournament was predictable.
The 75, 000-seat stadium, which is the biggest by number of the nine being used for the tournament in Morocco, was greeted by heavy rain as the teams entered the stadium.
Before the opening goal at 40 minutes, Iliman Ndiaye, Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye, and Sadio Mane, who were all two-time African players of the year, were all on par to break Senegal’s deadlock.
Ismail Jakobs, who was born in Germany, and Jackson, who is from Germany, combined for the goal, with the latter pulling the ball back after the latter finished.
Jackson doubled Senegal’s lead just before the hour mark thanks to a flowing midfield move and quick, crisp passing that followed. Cherif Ndiaye put the finishing touches on the cake with a smart finish at the conclusion of another excellent team move.
“The players performed the job,” he said. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw remarked, “We know how crucial it is to start well in a tournament.”
“You could see how desperate the young people were for victory,” the lads said. They did a fantastic job.
At Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, Senegal and DR Congo, who defeated Benin 1-0, are tied for third place overall.
A Cedric Bakambu effort was later dismissed for offside early in the second half, but Spartak Moscow’s Theo Bongonda pounced to score the winner 16 minutes later.
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cruise to Tunisia
It was a very challenging match, according to the source. Although I had no idea what Benin was like, Bongonda remarked.
DR Congo qualified for the 2026 World Cup if they beat New Caledonia or Jamaica in a play-off in March, where they were semi-finalists at the previous competition. They also hope to qualify.
The teams now renew their rivalries in Tangier on Saturday, while Botswana and Senegal will look to open their accounts as they face off in the same day as they do so, having defeated Senegal to top their group for World Cup qualifying.
The 2024 AFCON runners-up got off to a winning start in Fes despite being wasteful in front of goal. Nigeria came to Morocco to make amends for their World Cup defeat.
Victor Osimhen, a star striker, was one of the ones who scored but could have scored a hat-trick with better finishing.
Akor Adams hit the crossbar before Semi Ajayi, a three-time African champion, nodded in Alex Iwobi’s cross-bar in the closing minutes of the game.
Soon after half-time, Tanzania’s opponents Charles M’Mombwa scored the winning goal, but they were unable to build on that to claim their first-ever AFCON victory.
Ademola Lookman, the 2024 African player of the year, did not disappoint, as his rising shot from just outside the box made it 2-1.
Tunisia, who have won the group stage 3-1 against Uganda at the Rabat Olympic Stadium, will host Nigeria’s next Group C game on Saturday.
The 2004 champions’ Elias Achouri scored twice for FC Copenhagen, either side of half-time. Denis Omedi’s late consolation for Uganda was Denis Skhiri’s early lead, while Ellyes Skhiri had given them an early lead.
Source: Channels TV
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