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AFCON: Sadio Mane earns Senegal share of the spoils as Nigeria book knockout place

Sadio Mane struck for Senegal
Sadio Mane struck for Senegal

Sadio Mane scored for Senegal as they came from ⁠behind to draw 1-1 with the Democratic Republic of Congo on Saturday and keep top place ‍in Group D at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.

Cedric Bakambu put the Congolese into the lead in the 61st minute but Mane equalised eight minutes later with his 51st goal for his country, one of the favourites ⁠to win the tournament.

The two countries both have four ⁠points from their opening two games and look set to progress ⁠comfortably ‍into ⁠the last 16 with a final group game to come ‍for each on Tuesday.

Senegal ⁠are ahead of DR Congo on goal difference in the standings after they beat Botswana 3-0 in their opening fixture on ‍Monday while DR Congo edged past Benin 1-0 the same day.

In the group's other game, Yohan Roche scored a deflected winner as Benin claimed a first ⁠ever victory at the tournament with a 1-0 success against ‍Botswana in Rabat.

Benin took the lead ⁠in the 28th minute when Roche played a one-two ⁠in the box with captain Steve Mounie and his shot from 10 ⁠yards ‍took ⁠a wicked deflection off a defender and into the ‍net.

Benin finally celebrated a victory at ⁠the continental finals at the 16th attempt following their debut in 2004, and despite the fact they were quarter-finalists in ‍2019. They also have five draws to go with 10 defeats.

Calvin Chinedu Bassy of Nigeria and Alexander Chuka Iwobi of Nigeria celebrate during the AFCON Group C match between Tunisia and Nigeria at Fes stadium, Fes, Morocco on December 27, 2025. (Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Nigeria guaranteed their last-16 spot this evening

Meanwhile in Group C, Nigeria put on an impressive display of attacking prowess but had to hang on in the end for a narrow 3-2 win over Tunisia , becoming the second team to make sure of a place in the last 16.

Victor Osimhen opened the scoring a minute before halftime and captain Wilfred Ndidi and Ademola Lookman added two more after the break.

But Tunisia staged a late comeback with goals from defenders Montassar Talbi and Ali Abdi that set up a frenetic finish.

It was Nigeria's second win in Group C and ensures they will top the standings, even with one first-round fixture still to play.

In the other game in the group, Uche Ikpeazu scored a late equaliser before teammate Allan Okello missed a penalty as Uganda had to settle for a 1-1 draw with East African rivals Tanzania.

It is a first point for both sides in their pool after they opened their 2025 campaign with defeats against Tunisia and Nigeria, respectively.

Tanzania took the lead in the 59th minute when Simon Msuva converted a penalty following a handball in the box, but they were to be denied a first-ever win at the continental finals at the 11th attempt.

Ikpeazu's diving header drew Uganda level, before they were awarded a penalty and the chance to win it late on, only for talisman Okello to put his spot kick over the crossbar.

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