Senegal won Group D on goal difference as the 10-man Teranga Lions endured a tense finale to their win over Benin at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Tangier.
With the 2021 champions leading 1-0 and group rivals DR Congo beating Botswana 3-0, top spot in the section was on course to be decided by the drawing of lots before Habib Diallo slotted in his side’s second from Sadio Mane’s pass in the 62nd minute, ensuring they moved top by a goal.
Senegal staff and fans were left to nervously hope DR Congo failed to score again until Cherif Ndiaye converted a 97th-minute penalty to definitively settle top spot.
Third-placed Benin, who joined their opponents in being assured of progressing before kick-off, fell behind when Abdoulaye Seck headed in Krepin Diatta’s cross and gained a numerical advantage through Kalidou Koulibaly’s 71st-minute dismissal.
Senegal will remain in Tangier to face Burkina Faso or Sudan on Saturday (16:00 GMT), and will discover their opponents when Group E concludes on Wednesday.
Benin will face seven-time champions Egypt, who won Group B, at the same time on Monday in Agadir.
With DR Congo extending a 2-0 half-time lead to a three-goal advantage on the hour mark against Botswana in Rabat, the race was on to avoid a less favourable-looking path through the knockout stage for the top two.
Winning the group has spared Senegal a meeting with two-time champions Algeria in the last 16, as well as guaranteeing they will not face three-time winners Nigeria or host nation and tournament favourites Morocco before the final.
Video assistant referee (VAR) decisions have been a regular feature of this Afcon and Seck’s powerful header was subject to a lengthy check to decide that the centre-back had not handled the ball, which appeared to come off his shoulder as it flew past Marcel Dandjinou.
Knowing the predicament his team faced, Pape Thiaw sent on Sunderland midfielder Habib Diarra and Paris St-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye for Monaco’s Lamine Camara and Everton playmaker Iliman Ndiaye at the break.
Mane’s burst inside the box and clever cut-back set up Diallo to put Senegal back on top of the group, but they remained dependent on DR Congo’s fortunes, with Koulibaly’s dismissal for treading on Aiyegun Tosin’s ankle – again assessed by VAR – adding to the drama.
Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy made excellent saves to tip Junior Olaitan’s free-kick over the crossbar and deny Rodolfo Aloko in a one-on-one before Cherif Ndiaye put their final position beyond doubt, converting from the spot after Abdoul Rachid Moumini impeded Mbaye.
Gernot Rohr’s Benin will now hope to cause an upset against Egypt and repeat their run to the quarter-finals on their most recent Afcon appearance in 2019, while Senegal will hope to vanquish memories of their last-16 defeat in 2023, when they lost to eventual champions Ivory Coast on penalties.
