Senegal’s Africa Cup of Nations 2025 campaign continued with a hard-fought 1–1 draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo in a thrilling Group D encounter at the Stade de Tanger, leaving the group tightly poised ahead of the final round of matches.
In front of a lively crowd, DR Congo took the lead early in the second half through Cédric Bakambu after sustained pressure but Senegal responded with trademark resilience. Eight minutes later, superstar Sadio Mané was on hand to level the score with a composed finish after substitute Ibrahim Mbaye initiated the move with a surging run down the right flank.
The point keeps both teams level at the top of Group D, with Senegal holding four points and DR Congo matching them on goal difference. Both nations now have one eye on the final group fixtures, with Benin and Botswana also in the mix for qualification.
Mané, who has been a driving force for Senegal, acknowledged the challenge posed by the Leopards. “One point is not too bad as our opponents DR Congo were determined and played very well. They were good and compact in defence, they did not take any unnecessary risks, so they also deserve the one point,” Mané said after the match. “We are not completely unhappy as AFCON is always tough. It was a tough match and in this competition you cannot underrate any team.”
Senegal dominated much of the first half and created several good opportunities, with forward Nicolas Jackson going close early on and a free-kick from Mané narrowly missing the target. However, DR Congo’s organised defending kept the Teranga Lions at bay until Bakambu capitalised on a rebound to give his side the advantage.
DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre praised his players’ effort after the draw. “We came here to compete and we showed our quality. The team showed great resilience,” he said. “To get a point against a team like Senegal is something we can be proud of.”
The stalemate sets up a dramatic final set of group matches on Tuesday, with Senegal facing Benin and DR Congo taking on Botswana, both games likely to determine who advances to the knockout stages of AFCON 2025.
