Mané Rescues Senegal as Teranga Lions Hold DR Congo to Stay Top of Group D
Senegal came from behind to draw with DR Congo in Group D at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) as both sides edged a step closer to a place in the last 16.
Cedric Bakambu put the Leopards in front from close range just after the hour mark in Tangier, capitalising on the rebound as Senegal goalkeeper Edouard Mendy failed to hold onto Theo Bongonda's low effort.
But the West Africans equalised eight minutes later as substitute Ibrahim Mbaye burst through the defence and tested Congolese keeper Lionel Mpasi, with Sadio Mane showing composure to tuck the loose ball past the covering Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the line.
Senegal top the group on four points, ahead of the Leopards on goal difference, with Benin third on three points and Botswana pointless and on the brink of elimination after they were beaten 1-0 by the Cheetahs earlier on Saturday.
The final round of Group D fixtures take place on Tuesday (15:00 GMT), with Senegal remaining in Tangier to face Benin, while DR Congo return to Rabat to play Botswana.
Four points should realistically be enough for both Senegal, champions at the 2021 Afcon, and DR Congo, semi-finalists last time out, to progress – but the group winners will have the benefit of playing a third-placed finisher in the next round.
Leopards grow into contest
The meeting of the top two teams in Group D promised much after Senegal had outclassed Botswana 3-0 and the Central Africans had seen off Benin 1-0 on Tuesday.
That was especially so after the Teranga Lions had come from 2-0 down at half-time to win 3-2 when the sides met in Kinshasa in 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying in September - a victory which helped Pape Thiaw's side seal a spot at next year's tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Yet the first half in Tangier, played in a lively atmosphere and accompanied by a constant drum beat, proved much less explosive as DR Congo failed to register an effort on goal.
Wan-Bissaka thought he had fired the Leopards into the lead in the 14th minute, but Bongonda had strayed offside from Arthur Masuaku's cross before heading down to the West Ham right-back.
The rest of the first half was one-way traffic as Senegal dominated, with Nicolas Jackson side-footing narrowly wide and Mpasi doing just enough to scramble Pape Gueye's long-range shot past the post.
Sebastien Desabre's Leopards showed more purpose after the restart, with Noah Sadiki's fierce effort forcing Mendy into a save before Bakambu broke the deadlock with his second goal at these finals.
The direct running of Paris St-Germain teenager Mbaye played a vital role in the leveller, but there were no chances of note in the final 20 minutes as the two sides settled for a draw which virtually assures a spot in the next round.