Nicolas Jackson on the Double as Senegal Cruise Past Botswana 3–0

By Francis Onyach - Reporter

Kenya, 23 December 2025 - Senegal opened their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign with a convincing 3–0 victory over Botswana, powered by a brilliant brace from Bayern Munich loanee Nicolas Jackson.

It was capped off by a late goal to seal the win.

Facing Botswana in Group D at the Grand Stade de Tanger, the Lions of Teranga took control early, dominating possession and pressing high. The breakthrough arrived in the 40th minute when Jackson, currently on loan at Bayern Munich from Chelsea, converted an incisive low cross from Ismail Jakobs to open the scoring and reward Senegal’s early dominance.

After the break, Senegal continued to pile on the pressure, with Jackson once again making the decisive impact. In the 58th minute, he collected a slick pass from Ismaila Sarr, used a clever touch to evade his marker, and composedly finished from close range, giving the Teranga Lions a comfortable 2–0 lead.

Despite Senegal’s clear dominance, highlighted by their commanding attacking play and multiple goal attempts, Botswana struggled to find a way back into the match, unable to carve out meaningful scoring chances. As the game progressed, Senegal maintained control of the tempo, ensuring their advantage remained secure.

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Senegal wrapped up the scoring in the 90th minute, when Cherif Ndiaye added the third goal to complete a great display. His late strike was a fitting finish to a performance defined by attacking creativity and clinical execution, as Senegal registered 28 goal attempts throughout the contest.

Jackson’s brace not only gave Senegal a perfect start in Group D but also underlined his importance to the national side, showcasing his finishing ability and movement in the final third. The match was a tough test for Botswana against one of Africa’s elite sides, offering valuable experience despite the heavy defeat.

With this win, Senegal now sits atop their group on goal difference and will look to build on this strong foundation as the tournament progresses. Botswana, meanwhile, will aim to regroup and take lessons forward into their next fixture.