6 min Jackson lifts a cross that is met by Mane, whose downward header is pawed over the bar by Phoko.
3 min Senegal’s first chance comes from a Botswana corner. A blistering break ends with Phoko denying Jackson in a one-on-one before Pape Gueye shoots over.
1 min Peep peep! Senegal kick off from left to right as we watch.
Full time: DR Congo 1-0 Benin Theo Bongonda’s goal has given DR Congo victory in the opening game of Group D. They play Senegal next on Saturday; Benin will meet Botswana.
90 min: DR Congo 1-0 Benin Late drama in the opening game of the day, with Aiyegun Tosin’s shot superbly saved by the DR Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau.
Team news
Senegal (poss 4-2-3-1) E Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Jakobs; P Gueye, I Gueye; I Ndiaye, Mane, I Sarr; Jackson.
Subs: Y Diouf, Ciss, Seck, P Sarr, Diaw, C Ndiaye, Mbaye, Camara, M Sarr, A Mendy, Sabaly, Dia, Diarra, Diallo.
Botswana (poss 4-2-3-1) Phoko; Velaphi, Gaolaolwe, Ditlhokwe, Johnson; Ditsele, Motutsiwa; Seakanyeng, Cooper, Orebonye; Kebatho.
Subs: Boy, Kgosipula, Ratshukudu, Enosa, Baruti, Leinanyane, Dambe, Kopelang, Sesinyi, Nganda, Molefe, Modingwane, Kgamanyane, Ramotse, Maponda.
Updated
NO GOAL! DR Congo 1-0 Benin
Scratch that. Mbuku was offside in the build up – by quite a way, in fact – so the goal has been disallowed.
GOAL! DR Congo 2-0 Benin (Bakambu 47)
An early goal in the second half of today’s first game. Cedric Bakambu has doubled DR Congo’s lead with a precise header from Nathanael Mbuku’s superb cross.
Updated
This will be the second game in Group D. The first is taking place as I type: DR Congo lead Benin 1-0 at half-time thanks to a goal from Theo Bongonda.
Updated
Senegal were hugely impressive when they beat England 3-1 at the City Ground in June. Their midfield Lamine Camara says that is one of the reasons they should be regarded as favourites to win this competition.
It was a decision that took many by surprise, although not those who have been watching closely since February 2020. Members of the Confederation of African Football’s (Caf) executive committee, along with various other dignitaries including George Weah, the former Ballon d’Or winner and president of Liberia at the time, were assembled in Rabat at a seminar to hear Gianni Infantino outline his plan for the development of competitions and infrastructure in African football.
As well as improving standards in refereeing and mobilising investment in the continent’s infrastructure, the president of Fifa floated the prospect of holding its most important tournament, the Africa Cup of Nations, every four years instead of every two and described the current arrangement as “useless”. The argument ran that it would be more beneficial for countries “at the commercial level” and would help to “project African football to the top of the world”. “Let us show the world what we can do,” added Infantino. “This day is special – it’s the start of a new chapter for African football.”
Preamble
Hello and welcome to live coverage of Senegal v Botswana in Group D at the Africa Cup of Nations. The 2021 champions Senegal are among the favourites to win this year’s competition, behind only the hosts Morocco in many people’s eyes. Botswana ambitions are more modest: they are chasing their first positive Afcon result after losing all three matches on their only previous appearance in 2012.
Botswana beat Cape Verde – who have qualified for the World Cup – home and away during qualification, so Senegal will take nothing for granted. Even so, any result other than a Senegal victory would be a shock.
We’re contractually obliged to frame each team in the context of English football, by naming some players with whom lovers of the Premier League are familiar, so here goes. Senegal’s squad includes, among others, Nicolas Jackson, Sadio Mane, Pape Sarr, Ismaila Sarr, El Hadji Malick Diouf, Iliman Ndiaye, Idrissa Gueye and Edouard Mendy.
Botswana’s squad are mostly but home based, but look out (well, read out) for the lively forward Tumisang Orebonye. If Botswana are to pull off a shock, he will probably be the architect.
Kick off 3pm.
