By

Eniola Olatunji 

Former African champions ranked 19 in the whole world, the Teranga Lions of Senegal at Tangir on Saturday evening found it difficult to bring down 56 ranked opponent in group D the Leopards of DR Congo as both sides played 1-1 draw.

There was a scoreless first half before Cedric Bakamba of DR Congo opened the score sheet in the 61st minute and Sadio Mane’s lone strike equalized in the 69th minute.

Perhaps Unknown to football lovers their rivalry has been tough at least in their last three games of which Senegal won two and obtained a draw scoring 7 goals and DR Congo scored 3.

On 22nd July 2022 in a world cup qualifier, Senegal won 3-0; on 6th June 2024 it was 1-1 draw in a world cup qualifier making. Both teams made the Round of 16 stages at the last AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast where Senegal lost out at that stage 1 (4)-1(5) to Ivory Coast. DRC lost to Ivory Coast 0-1 in the semifinal and lost the Bronze to South Africa 0(5)-0(6). There last meeting this year, precisely on 9th September 2025 in a world cup qualifier ended in favor of Senegal 3-2.

Senegal tops group D with 4 points scoring 4 goals and conceding one; DR Congo is 2nd with 4 points too scoring 2 goals and conceding one; Benin is 3rd with 3 points with 1 goal and conceded one while Botswana is standing at the Exit door with no point, no goal and 4 goals conceded. 

The Cheetahs of Benin Republic ranked 92 on Saturday sent out the Zebras of Botswana by a lone goal scored by French Born Defender Yoham Roche from an assist by Steve Mounie in the 28th minute of play.
Botswana ranked 138 in their second appearances at the mundial is repeating their achievement in 2012 when they were sent out at the group stages. 

Last group D matches comes up on Tuesday 30th December to be played simultaneously when Botswana will try to redeem her pride against DR   Congo and Benin will face Senegal.
In Group C later tonight, Uganda and Tanzania will line up against each other at 6:30pm while Nigeria and Tunisia will try and hide their soccer hostilities at 9pm. Both Nigeria and Tunisia has a record of boycotting two matches between them at AFCON finals 

Second stage group matches end tomorrow when Gabon and Mozambique takes to the pitch at 1:30pm in group F; Equatorial Guinea will tackle Sudan in group E at 4pm; Algeria and Burkina Faso will try superiority tricks on each other at 6:30 pm in group E before the star match of former champions Ivory Coast versus Cameroon at 9pm.