- As Teranga Lions draw 1-1 with DR Congo’s Leopards
- Benin Republic secured historic 1–0 victory over Botswana
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | +/- | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  SEN |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2 |  COD |
2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 3 |  BEN |
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 |  BWA |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | -4 | 0 |
Former Liverpool and Southampton forward Sadio Mane was on hand to rescue the Teranga Lions of Senegal from defeat by Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in their Group D AFCON encounter on Saturday night.
In the absorbing match played at Tangier Grand Stadium, Mane got a neatly struck equaliser as former champions Senegal came from behind to snatch an important point
Cedric Bakambu had handed Les Leopards the lead after the hour mark, capitalizing on sustained second-half pressure. The former Marseille forward rolled the ball into an almost empty net after a rebound had left goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with little chance of making a save.
Expectedly, Senegal responded just eight minutes later, precisely in the 69th minute, through Mane who scored from a rebound. The former Liverpool star unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the box to equalise for his team.
However, Senegal had to wait as the goal was subjected to a VAR analysis, and they breathed a sigh of relief when referee Lahlou Benbraham finally indicated it would stand after the review.
In what many football pundits described as a lively contest, the Teranga Lions dominated much of the first half and left the pitch with a sense of regret, having created several clear opportunities without being able to find the breakthrough.
Nicolas Jackson went closest early on, his close-range effort from a Mane cut-back drifting inches wide, while Mane himself saw a free-kick from the edge of the area narrowly miss the target.
Earlier in the 14th minute, DR Congo thought they had grabbed the lead when former Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka scored, but the goal was ruled out for offside by VAR
The draw leaves DR Congo and Senegal tied on four points, after both won their opening points. But the Teranga Lions top the table because of their superior goal difference.
Benin Beat Struggling Botswana 1-0
The Squirrels of Benin Republic made football history as they recorded their first-ever victory in the AFCON tournament finals.
The historic win now places them third in Group D with three points after beating struggling Zebras of Botswana 1-0 on Saturday at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.
Bouncing back from their opening defeat to the DR Congo, Yohan Roche scored the Squirrels’ only goal in the 28th minute with an assist from Steve Mounie to hand them the much-needed crucial win.
Captained by ex-Kaizer Chiefs defender Thatayaone Ditlhokwe, Botswana, beaten by Senegal in the opening match, remain winless and at the bottom of the group, while the victory takes the West Africans to the third spot.
Consequently, Botswana, who are coached by South African tactician, Morena Ramoreboli, became the first team to exit the finals after suffering two successive defeats.
