AFCON Round of 16: Senegal, DR Congo win big to advance
Senegal underlined their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title credentials with a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin in their final Group D match, played in Tangiers on Tuesday, December 30.
The former African champions started purposefully and were rewarded in the 38th minute when Abdoulaye Seck rose highest to power home a header from Krépin Diatta’s well-delivered set piece, giving Senegal a deserved lead at the break.
Benin showed greater urgency after the restart, testing Édouard Mendy with efforts from Aiyegun Tosin and Junior Olaïtan. However, Senegal remained well organised defensively and clinical in attack.
The Teranga Lions doubled their advantage in the 62nd minute, with star forward Sadio Mané turning provider by slipping a neat pass into the box for Habib Diallo, who finished calmly with a left-footed strike from close range.
Elsewhere in Group D, Gaël Kakuta produced a masterclass performance, scoring twice and providing an assist as DR Congo secured second place with a convincing 3-0 victory over Botswana at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
The result sets up an enticing Round of 16 clash for Les Léopards against Group E winners Algeria.
Kakuta was at the heart of everything positive for DR Congo. His audacious backheel assist released Nathaniel Mbuku to open the scoring after 31 minutes, before the experienced playmaker calmly converted a penalty and later completed his brace to cap a dominant display.
Mbuku’s opener was a deserved reward for DR Congo’s bright start, as they pressed high and attacked with intent from the opening exchanges.
Charles Pickel twice threatened from range, his first curling attempt drifting narrowly wide before his second sailed over the bar. Fiston Mayele also went close, flashing a header wide at the near post from a left-wing delivery, as the Leopards continued to apply pressure.
Their dominance was further rewarded just before the interval. A VAR review confirmed a handball by Thabo Leinanyane as he attempted to block a cross from Meschack Elia, and Kakuta stepped up to dispatch the resulting penalty with authority.
DR Congo comfortably went into the break with a deserved two-goal advantage.
After the restart, the Congolese side showed no signs of easing off. On the hour mark, Kakuta struck again to make it 3–0, controlling Theo Bongonda’s cross inside the box before calmly picking his spot to complete his brace.
Mayele thought he had added a fourth minutes later, but celebrations were cut short following another VAR intervention. The forward was adjudged to have handled the ball as he attempted to head home from close range.
Botswana, already eliminated after defeats in their opening two matches, struggled to mount any meaningful response. DR Congo, composed and disciplined, managed the closing stages with maturity to close out a comprehensive and well-executed victory.
