In an exciting conclusion to the Group D matches of the Africa Cup of Nations hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco, the Senegalese national team secured first place, confirming their determination to go far in the tournament, after achieving a resounding and well-deserved victory over the Benin national team with three goals to nil in the match held at the Grand Stade de Tanger.
The Lions of Teranga roar in Tangier
Senegal, the reigning champions from the 2022 edition, delivered a dominant performance, controlling the game thanks to the brilliance of Sadio Mane and striker Habib Diallo. Defender Abdoulaye Seck opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a well-placed header, capitalizing on a pinpoint cross from Krepin Diatta. In the second half, despite Benin's attempts to regroup and get back into the game, Habib Diallo extended the Lions of Teranga's lead with a second goal in the 62nd minute after a delightful pass from Mane. Cherif Ndiaye then completed the scoring with a penalty in stoppage time (90+7).
Despite the victory, the match witnessed a negative turning point for Senegal, represented by the expulsion of veteran captain Kalidou Koulibaly with a red card in the 71st minute following a violent tackle, which will deprive the team of his services in the next match, an absence that may affect the defensive system of coach Aliou Cisse in the sensitive knockout stages.
Qualification scenarios and fiery clashes in the round of 16
With this victory, Senegal increased their points tally to seven, topping the group on goal difference ahead of the Democratic Republic of Congo. This top spot is of paramount strategic importance, as it spared Senegal an early and extremely difficult encounter against the strong Algerian team in the round of 16. Instead, Senegal will face the third-placed team from Group E (Burkina Faso or Sudan) next Saturday in Tangier, giving them a theoretically better chance of advancing to the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo has set up a tough match against group leaders Algeria, to be played next Tuesday in Rabat. The Congolese team secured their qualification with a similar 3-0 victory over Botswana, with star player Gael Kakuta scoring two goals and setting up the first, scored by Nathaniel M'Poku.
Egypt faces Benin... and the Pharaohs' ambition
On the other hand, despite the heavy defeat, Benin benefited from the tournament format and qualified as one of the best third-placed teams, thanks to the results of the other groups. This qualification has placed Benin in a historic and difficult match against Egypt, the leaders of Group B, next Monday in Agadir.
This match carries significant weight, as the Egyptian national team, record holders for the most titles in the tournament, seeks to reclaim the continental crown that has eluded them for years. The encounter with Benin will be a serious test of the Pharaohs' ambitions, as the knockout stages often witness surprises from teams that qualified with difficulty. This necessitates caution and focus from the Egyptian team to overcome the challenge of the "Squirrels" and continue their journey towards the title on Moroccan soil.
