Senegal and DR Congo Draw in Africa Cup of Nations Showdown
Senegal rallied to secure a draw against DR Congo in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), bringing both teams closer to advancing to the knockout stage.
Cedric Bakambu opened the scoring for the Leopards shortly after the hour mark in Tangier, taking advantage of a rebound after Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy failed to hold onto a low shot from Theo Bongonda.
The West Africans equalized just eight minutes later when substitute Ibrahim Mbaye broke through the defense and tested Congolese keeper Lionel Mpasi. Sadio Mane displayed poise as he slotted the loose ball past Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who was covering the line.
With this result, Senegal leads the group with four points, ahead of DR Congo on goal difference. Benin sits third with three points, while Botswana remains at the bottom with no points and faces elimination after suffering a 1-0 defeat to the Cheetahs earlier on Saturday.
The final round of Group D matches will occur on Tuesday at 15:00 GMT, with Senegal staying in Tangier to face Benin, while DR Congo heads back to Rabat to take on Botswana.
Both Senegal, the 2021 Afcon champions, and DR Congo, who reached the semi-finals last time, should realistically secure advancement with four points. However, the group winner will gain the advantage of facing a third-placed team in the next round.
Leopards Gain Momentum
The clash between the top two teams in Group D lived up to expectations, especially after Senegal's impressive 3-0 victory over Botswana and DR Congo's narrow 1-0 win against Benin on Tuesday.
This match was particularly anticipated following Senegal's remarkable comeback from a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 against DR Congo in a World Cup qualifying match in September, a victory that secured their spot in next year's tournament in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
However, the first half in Tangier, characterized by a vibrant atmosphere and the rhythm of drums, was less thrilling, as DR Congo failed to register a single shot on goal.
Wan-Bissaka appeared to have given the Leopards an early lead in the 14th minute, but Bongonda was ruled offside after heading down Arthur Masuaku's cross to the West Ham right-back.
Senegal dominated the remainder of the first half, with Nicolas Jackson narrowly missing the target and Mpasi managing to push Pape Gueye's long-range effort past the post.
After the break, Sebastien Desabre's Leopards displayed more intent, with Noah Sadiki forcing Mendy into a save before Bakambu netted his second goal of the tournament.
Mbaye's direct and dynamic play was crucial to Senegal's equalizer, but the final 20 minutes saw neither side create significant chances, resulting in a draw that nearly guarantees both teams a place in the next round.