Photo: Nicolas Jackson of Senegal
Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson scored a brace on Tuesday to inspire the Teranga Lions to a comfortable 3–0 win over Botswana in Group D of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, taking an early lead in the tournament’s Golden Boot race, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The goals marked Jackson’s first competitive international brace, as the 2021 champions began their AFCON campaign in emphatic fashion in Tangier.
Senegal started on the front foot and were close to taking an early lead on several occasions, but Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko produced a series of fine saves to deny Jackson, Sadio Mane, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaïla Sarr.
The breakthrough eventually came five minutes before halftime when Ismail Jakobs picked out an unmarked Jackson inside the box, and the forward calmly slotted home from close range to put Senegal ahead in the 40th minute.
Despite Botswana’s resistance, Jackson doubled his tally just before the hour mark, latching onto a pass from Sarr inside the area and guiding the ball past Phoko with what proved to be the first clear chance of the second half.
The Chelsea striker nearly completed his hat-trick with 15 minutes remaining but lifted the ball over the bar from eight yards after a clever turn away from his marker.
Senegal added gloss to the scoreline on the stroke of full-time as Chérif Ndiaye steered the ball home after a quality delivery from Cheikh Sabaly to seal a convincing victory.
With the result, Senegal joined DR Congo on three points at the top of Group D and will face the Leopards in their next match on Saturday. Botswana, still in search of their first-ever AFCON victory, will take on Benin in their next group game, with defeat likely to end their tournament hopes.
For Jackson, the brace places him at the head of the early Golden Boot contenders, as Senegal once again stake their claim as one of the favourites for this year’s AFCON title.
