Senegal 3-0 Botswana: Jackson brace helps AFCON favourites to routine victory

Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Senegal kicked off their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a routine 3-0 win over Botswana at Grand Stade de Tanger.

Bayern Munich striker Jackson scored in each half for the 2021 tournament winners and substitute Cherif Ndiaye added a late third in Tuesday’s contest.

Jackson was lively from the off as he was denied from a one-on-one inside three minutes, while Sadio Mane and Iliman Ndiaye also went close before Senegal’s 40th-minute breakthrough.

Ismail Jakobs cut the ball back from the left and Jackson turned home with a first-time finish to give Senegal – ranked 119 places above their opponents in the FIFA rankings – a deserved lead in Tangier.

Jackson’s second arrived on 58 minutes as he delicately moved the ball away from two opponents and calmly tucked the ball past Goitseone Phoko into the back of the net.

A chance for a hat-trick in the Group D clash passed Jackson by when he fired over from 10 yards, while the inspired Phoko prevented Mane from getting on the scoresheet with another fine save.

Snooze button? Nah, just Jackson’s way of celebrating a brace. #WeCelebr… | #TotalE… pic.twitter.com/6X67epIWZV

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 23, 2025

Data Debrief: Phoko heroics not enough as Senegal win again

Botswana goalkeeper Phoko made the second-most saves of any goalkeeper in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying and made 14 stops here against Senegal.

Senegal are now unbeaten in their past 12 matches in the tournament, excluding penalty shoot-outs, and have not trailed in any of those matches.

The Lions of Teranga have also now won their opening game in each of the past six editions of the tournament.