Jackson scores brace as Senegal makes winning start
Nicolas Jackson scored twice as Senegal kicked off its Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 3-0 win over Botswana at Grand Stade de Tanger.
Bayern Munich striker Jackson scored in each half for the 2021 tournament winners and substitute Cherif Ndiaye added a late third.
Jackson was lively from the off as he was denied from a one-on-one inside three minutes, while Sadio Mane and Iliman Ndiaye also went close before Senegal's 40th-minute breakthrough.
Ismail Jakobs cut the ball back from the left and Jackson turned home with a first-time finish to give Senegal – ranked 119 places above its opponent in the FIFA rankings – a deserved lead in Tangier.
Jackson's second arrived on 58 minutes as he delicately moved the ball away from two opponents and calmly tucked the ball past Goitseone Phoko into the back of the net.
A chance for a hat-trick in the Group D clash passed Jackson by when he fired over from 10 yards, while the inspired Phoko prevented Mane from getting on the scoresheet with another fine save.
Botswana goalkeeper Phoko made the second-most saves of any goalkeeper in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying and made 14 stops here against Senegal.
Senegal is unbeaten in its past 12 matches in the tournament, excluding penalty shoot-outs, and has not trailed in any of those matches.
The Lions of Teranga have also now won their opening game in each of the past six editions of the tournament.
