Senegal topped Group D and secured their place in the AFCON 2025 Round of 16 with a composed 3-0 victory over Benin Republic at the Grand Stade de Tanger, despite captain Kalidou Koulibaly being sent off in the second half.
The match carried high stakes, with both sides still in contention for qualification. Senegal held the historical advantage, having beaten Benin 1-0 in their only previous AFCON encounter in 2019, and they again showed their superiority here.
The game began energetically, with Sadio Mane involving himself early by threading a clever through ball in the 7th minute. VAR reviewed the play after Olivier Verdon slid in to challenge, but replays showed a clean tackle and play continued. Benin remained compact and organised, defending with discipline to restrict Senegal’s attacking movement for much of the half.
However, Senegal broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. Krépin Diatta delivered a dangerous free-kick into the area, and towering defender Abdoulaye Seck rose above everyone to place a precise header beyond the goalkeeper. After a brief VAR delay, the goal was confirmed, and Senegal carried the advantage into halftime despite Steve Mounie testing Edouard Mendy during added time.
Senegal continued to control the tempo in the second half and doubled their advantage in the 63rd minute. Mane once again drove down the left and cut the ball back toward the penalty spot, where Habib Diallo arrived with perfect timing to fire a confident finish past the keeper.
Drama followed in the 71st minute when Koulibaly was shown a red card after VAR upgraded an initial yellow, ruling that his challenge on Aiyegun Tosin involved a reckless stamp. Senegal were reduced to ten men but continued to manage the game calmly.
In stoppage time, Senegal extended their lead. Mbaye Ndiaye was brought down inside the box, leaving the referee with little choice but to award a penalty. Ndiaye confidently stepped up and converted, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to seal the 3-0 victory.
With the result, Senegal finished top of Group D on seven points and advanced to the knockout stages with authority. Benin Republic, meanwhile, also progressed as one of the best third-placed teams and will now face Egypt in the Round of 16.
Before this match, the two nations had met nine times, with Senegal winning seven, Benin one, and two ending in draws. Benin’s only victory dated back to December 1961, but once again Senegal proved the stronger side on the big stage.
