TANGER, MOROCCO — The Ibn Batouta Stadium witnessed Senegal's commanding 3-0 victory over Benin in the Africa Cup of Nations, though the Teranga Lions made life difficult for themselves by finishing with nine men after Kalidou Koulibaly's 71st-minute dismissal. The teams shared possession almost equally at 48.8%-51.2%, but Senegal's clinical edge in front of goal proved the decisive difference in a match that descended into chaos in its closing stages.
Abdoulaye Seck opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a towering header that set the tone for Senegal's dominance. Krépin Diatta delivered a dangerous cross following a set piece situation, and the defender rose unmarked at the back post to power his header into the bottom left corner past Marcel Dandjinou. The goal rewarded Senegal's patient build-up play and exposed Benin's vulnerability defending dead-ball situations. Habib Diallo doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute with a composed left-footed finish from the centre of the box, latching onto Sadio Mané's perfectly weighted through ball to slot high into the net. Deep into stoppage time, Cherif Ndiaye converted a penalty with authority in the 90th+7th minute, rifling his right-footed effort into the top right corner after Ibrahim Mbaye had been fouled by Rachid Moumini.
The tactical battle revealed Senegal's superior organization despite the balanced possession statistics. Idrissa Gueye controlled the tempo in midfield, breaking up Benin's attacks and launching quick transitions. Édouard Mendy produced four crucial saves to preserve his clean sheet, including a sharp stop from Aiyegun Tosin's effort in the 52nd minute and a late denial of Rodolfo Aloko. Benin's Steve Mounié and Junior Olaïtan worked tirelessly up front but found themselves isolated against Senegal's well-drilled defensive structure. Pape Matar Sarr and Habib Diarra provided energy in the engine room, while El Hadji Malick Diouf's delivery from wide areas consistently troubled Benin's backline.
Senegal were clinical when it mattered, putting six of their 10 shots on target compared to Benin's four from six attempts. The referee was busy throughout, brandishing six cards in a feisty affair that saw tensions boil over repeatedly. Senegal collected one yellow card before Koulibaly's straight red for a foul on Aiyegun Tosin, while Benin accumulated four yellow cards as frustration mounted. The statistics told the story of Senegal's control—they matched Benin's four corners but converted their chances with ruthless efficiency.
The turning point arrived in the 71st minute when Koulibaly received his marching orders after a VAR review upgraded his challenge on Aiyegun Tosin from a yellow to a red card. Senegal were reduced to nine men, having already made their full complement of substitutions, yet they managed the final 20 minutes with remarkable discipline. Benin pressed for a consolation goal, forcing three corners in quick succession, but Senegal's defensive resolve held firm even with their numerical disadvantage.