Key events
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 (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.
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.
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.
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.
Ed Aarons
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.