Senegal concluded their AFCON 2025 qualifiers in style with a 2-0 victory over Burundi, thanks to a brilliant brace from Habib Diarra. The win ensured Senegal finished the campaign unbeaten, reaffirming their status as one of Africa’s football powerhouses.
The game was tightly contested in the opening stages, with both teams showing flashes of brilliance. However, it was the Lions of Teranga who found the breakthrough in the 35th minute. Diarra, the standout performer, latched onto a perfectly weighted pass from Iliman Ndiaye and coolly slotted the ball past the Burundian goalkeeper to give Senegal a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The second half began with a tactical switch for Senegal, as Sabaly came on to replace Ndiaye. The substitution proved decisive. Just six minutes after the restart, Sabaly delivered an inch-perfect assist to Diarra, who doubled Senegal’s lead with a composed finish in the 51st minute.
Diarra’s second goal not only secured the win but also highlighted the young midfielder’s growing influence in the national team setup. Burundi pressed for a way back into the match but found Senegal’s defense impenetrable, with the reigning African champions maintaining control until the final whistle.
The victory cements Senegal’s position as a team to watch in the upcoming AFCON tournament, with an unbeaten qualifying campaign underscoring their consistency and depth.
