Matchday 2 of AFCON 2025 Group D left the group delicately balanced, with three teams still firmly in the hunt for qualification and everything set to be decided on the final matchday. Victories were hard-earned, margins were slim, and pressure weighed heavily as the group began to take shape without offering clear separation at the top.
The day opened in Rabat with a tense encounter between Benin and Botswana, a fixture that carried the weight of survival for both sides. Knowing anything less than victory would all but end their campaign, Benin played with urgency from the opening whistle. They controlled possession, pressed higher, and gradually forced Botswana into long spells of defensive resistance. The breakthrough arrived in the 28th minute when Yohan Roche surged forward from deep, his shot taking a decisive deflection before finding the net to spark wild celebrations among the Beninese faithful.
From that moment, the contest turned into a test of nerve. Botswana responded with renewed belief, pushing their lines higher and threatening sporadically, most notably when a well-struck set piece rattled the woodwork before halftime. The second half became increasingly physical and fractured, with fouls disrupting rhythm as Botswana searched desperately for an equaliser. Benin, guided by Gernot Rohr’s touchline instructions, dropped deeper but remained disciplined, nearly extending their lead when Tamimou Ouorou failed to convert from close range. In the closing minutes, Botswana threw bodies forward, but Benin held firm to secure a vital 1–0 win that keeps their qualification hopes alive heading into the final round.
Later in Tangier, attention shifted to the heavyweight clash between Senegal and the Democratic Republic of Congo, a match that lived up to its billing. Senegal dominated possession early, circulating the ball with authority and pinning DR Congo deep, but their finishing repeatedly let them down. Chances came and went for Nicolas Jackson, Sadio Mané and Ismaila Sarr, while DR Congo absorbed the pressure and waited patiently for their moment.
That moment arrived just after the hour mark when Theo Bongonda struck decisively from the centre of the box, punishing Senegal’s inability to turn dominance into goals. The lead, however, lasted only minutes. Senegal responded with renewed intensity, and Sadio Mané finally delivered the equaliser, steering home a composed finish to restore parity and ignite the crowd. The final stages were frenetic, with both teams visibly fatigued yet unwilling to settle, but neither could find the decisive blow, and the contest ended in a hard-fought 1–1 draw.
As Matchday 2 concludes, Group D remains wide open. Senegal, DR Congo and Benin all retain realistic qualification chances, while Botswana’s hopes hang by a thread. With one round of matches remaining, the margins are razor-thin, and the final fixtures promise high drama as the group awaits its definitive outcome.
AFCON 2025 Group D Standings [After Matchday 2]
