AFCON: Nicolas Jackson strikes twice as Senegal power past Botswana

The Lions of Teranga set the tone early and could have been ahead inside the opening minutes. After just four minutes, Botswana goalkeeper Goitseone Phoko produced a sharp block to deny Jackson from close range, before Pape Gueye fired over the crossbar from the rebound.

Phoko was soon busy again, reacting quickly to keep out Sadio Mane's close-range header as Senegal continued to apply sustained pressure.

Botswana spent long periods defending deep and relied heavily on their goalkeeper. Phoko made another outstanding save after 15 minutes, tipping Iliman Ndiaye's curling effort around the post as Senegal controlled possession and territory.

Heavy rain failed to slow the tempo, with Jackson volleying narrowly over the bar and Ismaila Sarr forcing another save from 12 yards.

The breakthrough finally arrived five minutes before the break. Ismail Jakobs delivered a precise pass into the penalty area, and Jackson finished calmly from eight yards to give Senegal a deserved lead at half-time.

Any hope of a Botswana response faded early in the second half. Jackson doubled Senegal's advantage just before the hour mark, meeting Sarr's pass inside the box and guiding his finish past Phoko to effectively settle the contest.

Senegal continued to dominate, with Phoko again denying Mane in the 65th minute to keep the scoreline respectable.

Jackson went close to completing his hat-trick late on but lifted his effort over the bar after turning smartly inside the area.

The third goal arrived on 90 minutes when Cherif Ndiaye applied the finishing touch after a well-weighted pass from Cheikh Sabaly.

The result moved Senegal onto three points in Group D alongside DR Congo, setting up a key clash between the two sides in the next round of matches.

Botswana, meanwhile, remain in search of their first-ever AFCON victory and now face a must-win encounter against Benin to keep their hopes alive.