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Senegal opened their African Cup of Nations campaign with a comfortable 3-0 victory Botswanawith Nicolas Jackson twice on the scoresheet.
Senegal dominated possession from the early exchanges, pinning Botswana deep and creating a steady stream of chances through Sadio Mane, Nicolas Jackson and Ismaila Sarr.
The initial pressure showed in the 40th minute when Jackson opened the scoring, finishing calmly from close range after being picked out by Ismail Jakobs.
Botswana struggled to relieve the pressure, although they defended in numbers and relied heavily on goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko, who made several saves to keep the scoreline manageable before the break. Senegal went into halftime with a deserved 1-0 lead.
Second-half goals seal victory
The pattern of play remained the same after the restart, with Senegal patient in possession and Botswana unable to sustain attacks.
Jackson doubled the advantage in the 58th minute, timing his run well before finishing low from the corner following a cross from Sarr.
The substitutions allowed Senegal to maintain their intensity, and Cherif Ndiaye added a third late in the match, converting from the center of the area after Cheikh Sabaly’s assist to cap off a dominant display.
Botswana threatened sporadically but failed to seriously test Edouard Mendy, while Senegal’s defensive structure remained largely composed.
The result gives Senegal a strong platform in the group stage and reflects their balance of experience and offensive variety.
Botswana showed resilience, but were ultimately dominated on the field as Senegal claimed a convincing first victory.
