Afcon 2025 Match Summary : Benin 1 vs Senegal 3
December 30, 2025
284d agoIn their final AFCON 2025 Group D match, the Senegal national team delivered a commanding 3-0 victory over Benin. The win confirmed Senegal's place at the top of the group with seven points, while Benin, despite the defeat, advanced to the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams.
Senegal opened the scoring in the 38th minute when defender Abdoulaye Seck rose to powerfully head home a free-kick from Krepin Diatta. The goal was confirmed after a brief VAR check for a potential handball. The Teranga Lions doubled their lead just after the hour mark. Veteran forward Sadio Mane expertly carved open the Benin defense before laying the ball off for Habib Diallo to finish calmly in the 62nd minute.
The match's major incident occurred in the 71st minute when Senegal's captain and defensive stalwart, Kalidou Koulibaly, was shown a straight red card following a VAR review of a studs-up challenge. Playing the final twenty minutes with ten men, Senegal displayed resilience and capped the performance with a third goal deep into stoppage time. Substitute Cherif Ndiaye converted a penalty in the 97th minute to seal a comprehensive 3-0 win.
The result sets up contrasting Round of 16 fixtures. As group winners, Senegal will face the runner-up from Group C—either Burkina Faso or Sudan—in Tangier on January 3rd. They will be forced to do so without the suspended Koulibaly. Benin, having qualified in third place, faces a formidable challenge against the seven-time champions, Egypt, in Agadir on January 5th. The manner of Senegal's victory, particularly while navigating a period with ten men, reinforced their status as one of the tournament's leading contenders.
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