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Senegal secured top spot in Group D at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Tuesday with a 3-0 victory over Benin, booking a place in the last 16 and condemning the Democratic Republic of Congo to a more brutal knockout clash against Algeria.
The reigning African champions went into the final round of group games knowing they needed a win to stay ahead of DR Congo on goal difference. They delivered in Tangier, taking the lead through Abdoulaye Seck, who headed home Krepin Diatta’s free-kick shortly before half-time.
Habib Diallo doubled Senegal’s advantage just after the hour mark, finishing off a precise cutback from Sadio Mane.
The match took a dramatic turn when captain Kalidou Koulibaly was sent off following a VAR review, reducing Senegal to 10 men for the closing stages.
Despite that setback, Cherif Ndiaye sealed the win with a penalty deep into stoppage time.
Meanwhile, DR Congo kept pace with a 3-0 win over already-eliminated Botswana in Rabat.
Gael Kakuta was the standout performer, setting up Nathanael Mbuku with a clever backheel before scoring twice himself, including one from the penalty spot.
Both teams finished the group with seven points from three matches, but Senegal topped the section by a margin of two goals. As a result, Pape Thiaw’s side remains in Tangier for a last-16 tie on Saturday against the third-placed team in Group E, either Burkina Faso or Sudan.
DR Congo, by contrast, faces a daunting test against 2019 champions Algeria next Tuesday, with the winner potentially meeting Nigeria in the quarter-finals.
Despite their defeat, Benin also progressed as one of the best third-placed teams, qualifying for the AFCON knockout stages for only the second time. Their reward is a last-16 showdown with Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, in Agadir on Monday.
