AFCON GROUP D: Senegal face Botswana as DR Congo clash with Benin
Reading Time: 4min | Tue. 23.12.25. | 10:41
Botswana head coach Morena Ramoreboli will also make history as the first South African to lead another nation at the AFCON final
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) enters day three today, Tuesday, 23 December with Group D matches taking center stage where DR Congo takes on Benin before Senegal battles with Botswana.
Group D presents a predictable hierarchy of teams. Senegal are the group’s and one of tournament's favourites while DR Congo are one of the strong sides that can pull a surprise in the tournament.
Benin and Botswana are underdogs which will help to reduce the pressure on them and provide the fuel to upset the big boys of the tournament.
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DR Congo vs Benin
The first match of the day will see DR Congo face off with Benin at the 15,000 seater Al Barid Stadium in Rabat from 1530 hrs (EAT).
The Leopards head into today's match as the favourites and with great momentum having won all their last five matches leading to this tournament and have lost just one of their last 11 matches under French coach Sebastian Desabre.
The two-time AFCON champions boast of top quality in their squad including English Premier League stars Axel Tuanzebe, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Noah Sadiki who complement the experience of Chancel Mbemba and Nathanael Mbuku to spur the country.
Speaking ahead of the game, Desabre called on fans' support, promising them good tidings.
“I want to say a word to the fans: we managed to make them happy in November, the players were fantastic, and we will have the same mindset for them during this AFCON,” said Desabre.
The Leopards will be keen to amend the happenings of the 2023 edition where they failed to win any of their three group matches.
For Benin, they are making a return to the tournament after six years having last featured in the 2019 edition.
The Cheetahs are making their fifth appearance at the AFCON finals where they will be chasing their first win in open play having failed to do so in all their 14 games.
Considered underdogs they will be determined to change the odds in Group D by securing a big win over DR Congo.
The team will also be banking on the experience of coach Gernot Rhor as well as the quartet of Steve Mounie, Jodel Dosou, Oliver Verdon and David Kiki all of whom featured in the 2019 edition.
Rhor is out to secure a win that would be used as fuel to propel his side to the latter stages of the tournament.
“We are all proud to be at this AFCON: the players, the staff members. Our first step will be to put in a good performance against DR Congo. After that, we will give everything to go as far as possible—why not all the way to January 18 (date of the finals),” he stated.
The two teams have met twice where DR Congo won one with the other clash ending in a stalemate.
Senegal vs Botswana
Senegal will take to the pitch to face Botswana in the second match of the day that is scheduled for the 68,000 seater Stade Ibn Batouta in Tangier from 1800 hrs (EAT).
Senegal head into the match not only as the group favourites but also as one of the tournament’s favourites, boasting a squad of high quality and having lifted the 2021 edition.
The Lions of Teranga have featured in every edition since 2015 where they also won all their opening matches. The West African nation have lost only two of their 17 opening matches.
Featuring in their 18th edition, the Pape Thiaw-coached side will be out to extend their impressive run in their opening match.
Sadio Mane remains the team’s star and most dependable asset on the attack but the team is full of stars including former Chelsea trio of Kalidou Koulibaly, Nicholas Jackson and Edward Mendy as well as Premier League stars Idrissa Gueye, Pape Matar Sarr and Ismaila Sarr.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, captain Kuolibaly shared the team’s approach to the Botswana encounter.
“We take Botswana very seriously. They eliminated Cape Verde. There is caution but the general mood remains one of clarity and controlled confidence,” said Koulibaly.
Botswana who will be making only their second appearance in the tournament will carry the confidence of their qualification that included a draw against Egypt and triumph over Cape Verde to once again produce a shocker in the tournament.
Most of the team’s players play locally with others spread across North Africa, a sharp contrast to their opponents who have almost all of their squad members drawn from Europe's top five leagues as well as top clubs in Saudi Arabia.
Botswana head coach Morena Ramoreboli will also make history as the first South African to lead another nation at the AFCON finals.
