AFCON 2025 | Group D: Can Nicolas Jackson lead Senegal to glory?

Senegal, Democratic Republic of Congo, Benin and Botswana clash in a mix of giants and underdogs at AFCON 2025.

Senegal head into the tournament as favourites, DRC bring a talented squad to challenge, while Benin and Botswana will be looking to cause surprises and make their mark on the continental stage.

SENEGAL

CAF Ranking: 2nd

Coach: Pape Thiaw

Player to watch: Nicolas Jackson

Best performance: Champions 2021

Tournament prediction: Semi-finals

The Lions of Teranga are hot favourites to win a second title, going into the tournament with an impressive world record run of 22 unbeaten matches. This could well be Sadio Mané’s swansong on the biggest continental stage, and the former Liverpool superstar would love nothing more than to bow out in glory.

It is doable, given just how strong the Senegal squad is, teeming with players plying their trade in Europe’s biggest leagues. Nicolas Jackson is expected to shine for the country as he has for his club, but he is just one of a star-studded line-up capable of denying hosts Morocco a home victory—their only previous triumph was in 1976.

DR CONGO

CAF Ranking: 9th

Coach: Sebastien Desabre (France)

Player to watch: Noah Sadiki

Best performance: Champions 1968, 1974

Tournament prediction: Quarter-finals

On the verge of qualifying for the World Cup after eliminating Nigeria in the continental play-off, the DRC will be full of confidence that they can replicate their strong showing two years ago in the Ivory Coast.

They are excitedly anticipating the intercontinental play-offs, which could increase the number of African representatives at the global showpiece to 10. But first comes the continental tournament, where they will look to improve on their fourth-place finish and perhaps even win a third title, having last been crowned champions fifty years ago.

Coach Desabre has a solid squad teeming with talent capable of challenging group favourites Senegal.

BENIN

CAF Ranking: 18th

Coach: Gernot Rohr (Germany)

Player to watch: Steve Mounie

Best performance: Quarterfinalists 2019

Tournament prediction: First round

For a while, it looked as though Benin could upset favourites Nigeria and South Africa in the World Cup qualifiers, as The Cheetahs went top of the group before the penultimate match. They came unstuck against the Super Eagles in the final match, finishing third in the group.

Nevertheless, they would have gained immense confidence from that campaign and will approach this AFCON believing they can replicate their impressive 2019 run to the last eight. They have not featured at the continental, biennial soccer showpiece since then, and just qualifying again is a significant achievement. Progressing past the group stage would be an even bigger feat.

BOTSWANA

CAF Ranking: 40th

Coach: Morena Ramoreboli (South Africa)

Player to watch: Tumisang Orebonye

Best performance: Group phase

Tournament prediction: First round exit

The Zebras are returning to the continent’s premier soccer event for the first time since 2012 and will be eager to progress past the group stage. It is a tall ask given the tough group Morena Ramoreboli’s team faces.

However, there is hope they could reach the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams from the round-robin stage. With a victory over Egypt in the qualifiers, Botswana can take the pitch against continental giants confident they might secure a win.

That said, it will be a challenge, and the team they realistically have the best chance of beating is Benin — but even that is a stretch.