AFCON 2025: Benin vs Senegal preview, prediction, team news and head-to-head

While the Teranga Lions have partially confirmed their progression to the knockout phase, the Cheetahs are fighting for every point to secure their place in the next round of the tournament in Morocco.

Benin, who progressed from the AFCON group stage for the first time in 2019, boosted their chances of repeating the feat this year with a crucial 1-0 win over Botswana on matchday two, ending a run of three straight defeats. 

Despite the six-year wait for their next tournament appearance, Gernot Rohr’s side now sit atop the third-place ranking. 

This position offers a potential route to the knockout stages, should they fail to achieve a favourable result in the final round against a difficult opponent, as they currently remain a point behind the top two in Group D.

Meanwhile, Senegal, AFCON winners as recently as 2021 and second favourites for this winter's title, have not yet officially secured their spot in the last 16. 

Their 1-1 draw against DR Congo last time out, where they had to come from behind to earn a point, was a disappointing result. Nevertheless, Pape Thiaw’s team has lost only one of their last 14 games in 90 minutes and leads Group D. 

Having progressed from the group stage in each of the last four AFCON editions, it would take a massive upset for the holders not to advance from this stage.

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Senegal have been the dominant force in recent meetings, winning four of the last five matches against Benin. 

The Teranga Lions secured a 1-0 victory in their last clash, which was a friendly game and have consistently found ways to break down the Benin defence. 

Before that, they played a 1-1 draw when they faced each other at the 2023 AFCON competition in Ivory Coast.

Benin head into this encounter with a relatively settled squad, though they will be without Andreas Hountondji, who misses out through injury and is not expected to feature.

Senegal also have a largely full-strength group available, but Assane Diao is unavailable due to injury and will play no part in this fixture. Apart from his absence, the squad remains stable going into the match.

Benin (4-2-3-1): Dandjinou; Ouorou, Verdon, Tijani, Roche; D’Almeida, Dodo; Imourane, Tosin, Olaitan; Mounié

Senegal (4-3-3): Mendy; Diatta, Koulibaly, Niakhaté, Jakobs; Gueye, Gueye, Sarr; Ndiaye, Mané, Jackson

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Senegal possess far more quality in every area of the pitch and have shown a level of defensive discipline that is difficult to break down. 

Even if they choose to rotate their squad, the depth of the Senegalese talent pool is superior to the starting eleven of Benin.

Benin will be desperate for a point, but they may struggle to stop the clinical transitions of the visitors.