AFCON 2025: Senegal, DR Congo battle for round of 16 berth as Benin, Botswana seek redemption
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 27.12.25. | 09:35
The highlight of the day comes from Ibn Batouta Stadium, where 2021 champions Senegal face two-time 1968 and 1974 winners DR Congo
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues on Saturday, 27 December, with two high-stakes Group D fixtures promising early round of 16 qualification implications.
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After thrilling opening fixtures that saw Senegal dispatch Botswana 3-0 and DR Congo edge Benin 1-0, Saturday’s encounters are set to produce more fireworks as the race for the knockout stage begins to take shape.
The highlight of the day comes from Ibn Batouta Stadium, where 2021 champions Senegal face two-time 1968 and 1974 winners DR Congo
Both sides enter the fixture off the back of victories and will be aiming to secure a second consecutive win, ensuring an early berth in the round of 16.
Currently atop the group with three points and a +3 goal difference, Senegal will be wary of a stubborn Congo side, keen to continue their resurgence.
Coach Pape Thiaw will rely on his seasoned foreign legion, including Nicolas Jackson (Bayern Munich), Sadio Mané (Al Nassr), Kalidou Koulibaly (Al Hilal), Édouard Mendy (Al Hilal), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton), Idrissa Gueye (Everton), Pape Sarr (Tottenham Hotspur), and Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace).
The duo of Jackson and Mané, in particular, are expected to lead the charge for goals and decisive moments.
Opposing them, DR Congo will seek to build on their narrow 1-0 win over Benin.
Coach Sébastien Desabre will bank on the experience of Cédric Bakambu (Real Betis), Fiston Mayele, Théo Bongonda, skipper Chancel Mbemba (Lille), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley), and Noah Sadiki (Sunderland) to withstand Senegal’s onslaught and possibly pull off an upset.
The encounter marks the 11th meeting between the nations, with Senegal holding an edge with six wins, Congo two, and two draws.
At the AFCON level, this will be the third competitive meeting
DR Congo triumphed 2-1 in 1968 en route to their first title, while Senegal avenged that defeat 2-0 in the postponed 2021 edition, which they ultimately won.
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With history, pride, and early qualification stakes on the line, this promises to be a compelling clash.
Benin vs Botswana seeking redemption
In an earlier kick-off at 3:30 PM (EAT) at Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah Olympique Annexe in Rabat, Benin hosts Botswana in a fixture that could reshape Group D’s lower half.
Both sides were beaten on the opening day, Benin 1-0 by DR Congo and Botswana 3-0 by Senegal, and will be desperate to secure their first win and revive hopes of reaching the round of 16.
Benin, returning to the continental stage after six years, will look to surpass their 2019 quarter-final achievement.
Coach Gernot Rohr will depend on key players Steve Mounié (Alanyaspor), Junior Olaitan (Göztepe), Andréas Hountondji (FC St. Pauli), and Olivier Verdon (Ludogorets) to secure a breakthrough victory, ending a five-match winless streak.
Botswana, making only their second AFCON appearance, will aim to bounce back from a heavy defeat against Senegal.
Head coach Morena Ramoreboli will lean on Goitseone Phoko (Jwaneng Galaxy), Thatayaone Ditlhokwe (Al Ittihad), Kabelo Seakanyeng (Maghreb Fes), Mothusi Johnson (Oropa United), and Tumisang Orebonye (Wydad Casablanca) to stabilise the side and challenge Benin.
Saturday’s fixture marks the first-ever meeting between the two nations and promises a tense, hard-fought battle, as both sides aim to recover from opening-day setbacks and avoid early elimination.
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