Sadio Mané once again played the role of saviour as Senegal were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in a tightly contested AFCON 2025 Group D encounter played in Tangier on December 27.
In a match where the former champions dominated possession, territory and chances, it ultimately took the composure and experience of their star man to prevent an outright upset by a disciplined Congolese side.
Senegal came into the game knowing a win would all but secure their passage to the knockout stages, and from the first minute it was clear they intended to take control.
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Under head coach Pape Thiaw, the Lions of Teranga lined up with Édouard Mendy in goal, a defence of Ismail Jakobs, Moussa Niakhaté, Kalidou Koulibaly and Krépin Diatta, while Pape Gueye and Idrissa Gueye anchored midfield. The attacking burden rested on Sadio Mané, Iliman Ndiaye and Ismaila Sarr, supporting striker Nicolas Jackson.
The opening exchanges saw Senegal enjoy nearly 59 percent of the ball, but clear chances were hard to come by.
Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr and Mané all had sights of goal inside the first 25 minutes, only for poor finishing and last-ditch defending to deny them.
Offside calls disrupted Senegal’s rhythm on several occasions, including promising moves involving Jakobs and Diatta, highlighting a lack of timing in the final third.
DR Congo, meanwhile, remained compact, with Chancel Mbemba and Axel Tuanzebe marshalling the backline well.
Despite Senegal’s pressure, the first half ended goalless, with DR Congo having weathered the storm.
The Congolese side, coached by Sébastien Desabre, started with Lionel M’Pasi in goal; Arthur Masuaku, Tuanzebe, Mbemba and Aaron Wan-Bissaka in defence; Samuel Moutoussamy shielding the back four; and an attacking unit of Mechak Elia, Noah Sadiki, Ngal Mukau and Theo Bongonda supporting Cedric Bakambu.
The game turned unexpectedly on the hour mark. Against the run of play, DR Congo struck first.
Wan-Bissaka delivered a precise pass into the box, and Theo Bongonda made no mistake, firing a left-footed shot past Édouard Mendy to give the Congolese a shock lead.
The goal silenced Senegal’s dominance and briefly shifted momentum.
Senegal responded with urgency. As fatigue began to show, both sides made changes, with DR Congo introducing Fiston Mayele and Nathanael Mbuku, while Senegal later brought on Habib Diallo and Lamine Camara.
The equaliser arrived in the 69th minute, and fittingly, it was Sadio Mané who delivered. The forward controlled the ball in the centre of the box and struck a right-footed effort that kissed the left post before nestling in the net, restoring parity and reigniting Senegal’s push.
The final 20 minutes grew tense and physical, with fouls breaking up play and both teams pushing cautiously for a winner. Referee Lahlou Benbraham of Algeria kept control of proceedings in a match that grew increasingly aggressive after the equaliser. Despite Senegal’s late pressure and attacking intent, DR Congo held firm to secure a valuable point.
The result leaves both Senegal and DR Congo tied on four points heading into the final round of group matches. Senegal will face Benin in their last fixture, while DR Congo take on Botswana, who narrowly lost 1-0 to Benin. For Senegal, the draw felt like a missed chance, but Mané’s timely intervention ensured their AFCON campaign remains firmly in their own hands.