Sports
Benin v Senegal – Line-ups, stats and preview
Tournament favourites Senegal face Benin on Tuesday evening as Group D concludes at the Africa Cup of Nations, with both sides well placed to reach the knockout stages at the Ibn Batouta Stadium in Tangier.
Benin come into the fixture on a historic high after claiming their first-ever AFCON finals victory, edging Botswana 1-0 on Saturday, while Senegal confirmed their qualification with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against DR Congo.
That victory followed a narrow 1-0 defeat to DR Congo in their opening Group D fixture, where Theo Bongonda’s early strike proved enough to separate the sides.
Head coach Gernot Rohr will take encouragement from his side’s organisation and discipline so far in Morocco, with continuity in selection likely as Benin prepare to face opponents with significantly greater tournament pedigree.
Historically, the Cheetahs have found Senegal a difficult opponent, recording just one win in their first meeting back in 1961, alongside two draws and seven defeats since.
Senegal enter the final group fixture with four points from two matches and are well placed to advance to the round of 16.
The 2021 champions opened their campaign with a commanding 3-0 win over Botswana, with Nicolas Jackson scoring twice, before following that up with a 1-1 draw against DR Congo, where Sadio Mane netted the equaliser after Senegal fell behind early.
With experienced figures such as Mane, Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Idrissa Gueye in the squad, Senegal remain among the leading contenders to lift the trophy.
Team news for Benin v Senegal
Benin approach the fixture with a largely settled squad, though Andreas Hountondji remains unavailable after declining a call-up due to a persistent thigh injury.
Rohr made several changes following the opening defeat to DR Congo, with Marcel Dandjinou, Olaitan Junior, Tidjani Mohamed and Steve Mounie returning from suspension to start against Botswana. A similar lineup is expected as Benin prioritise stability.
Senegal also have most of their squad available, though Ismaila Sarr remains a fitness concern after being withdrawn early against DR Congo as he continues to recover from an ankle ligament injury.
Thiaw is expected to rely on his established core, with Mendy, Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, Jackson and Mane all likely to start if fully fit, while Idrissa Gueye and Pape Gueye should anchor midfield.
Expected line-ups for Benin v Senegal
Benin: Dandjinou; Ouorou, Verdon, Tidjani, Roche; D’Almeida, Dodo, Imourane, Tosin, Olaitan; Mounie
Senegal: Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhate, Jakobs; I. Gueye, P. Gueye, I. Ndiaye; I. Sarr, Mane, Jackson
How to watch Benin v Senegal: TV channel, online stream
Kick-off on Tuesday is at 19:00 GMT (14:00 ET / 11:00 PT). In the UK, live AFCON 2025 coverage is on Channel 4 Sport’s YouTube channel. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.
Online live streaming is available on a vast range of devices through Channel 4’s website and app and the beIN Sports app.
The stats for Benin v Senegal
• Benin claimed their first-ever AFCON finals win against Botswana on matchday two
• Benin have scored one goal in each of their two Group D matches
• Benin have lost just one of their last three AFCON matches
• Senegal are unbeaten in their last eight matches in all competitions
• Senegal have scored in seven of their last eight matches
• Senegal have conceded just once in two AFCON group games
• Senegal have won seven of their last ten meetings with Benin
• Senegal have reached the knockout stages in each of their last four AFCON appearances
Prediction
Both sides are likely to approach this fixture with caution, knowing that avoiding defeat could be enough to secure progression depending on results elsewhere.
A draw would move Senegal onto five points and guarantee qualification, while Benin could also advance as one of the best third-placed teams based on their points total.
