AFCON 2023: Cape Verde stuns Ghana to move top of Group B as Egypt and Mozambique play out a 2-2 draw
For the third time in a row, Ghana’s Black Stars have missed out on a win in its opening game at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
After drawing 2-2 with Benin in the 2019 edition opener and losing 0-1 to Morocco at the 2021 AFCON, Ghana lost 1-2 to Cape Verde in the 2023 edition in Cote D’Ivoire.
The Black Stars conceded a Jamiro Monteiro goal in the 17th minute off a rebound after Ghana goalkeeper Richard Ofori parried a shot into the San Jose Earthquake player’s path.
Ghana defender Alexander Djiku struck the equalizer in the 56th minute by directing a low header into the corner of the net off a Jordan Ayew corner kick.
However, a potential draw was wiped off after a throw-in threw the Black Stars defensive line off and resulted in Garry Rodrigues slotting the ball into an empty net.
Cape Verde leads Group B with three points ahead of Egypt and Mozambique who played out a 2-2 draw in the other group game.
Mohammed Salah scored late to rescue Egypt from a Mozambique shock in their opening group D game.
It took the 7-time champions just two minutes to get into the lead thanks to Mohamed Mostafa’s strike.
Mohammed Salah failed to connect to a cross from Mohammed Hamdi but Mostafa was just there to swivel a shot into the bottom corner.
Mostafa once again was put through by Salah but his final effort was saved by goalkeeper Ernan Siluane.
Mozambique came close to getting their first goal after Mohamed Abdelmonem was forced to put the ball into his own net but El Shenawy managed to save the situation.
The Mambas came into the second half much stronger.
Witness Quembo headed home the equalizer for Mozambique. A bullet header beat the palm of El Shenawy after a lovely cross from Domingos on the 55th minutes
The goal is Mozambique’s first in the last 14 years.
Three minutes later, Clesio Bauque added Mozambique’s second. He broke through the Egyptian to set up a one-on-one with Mohamed El Shenawy to score.
Domingos Macandza brought down Mostafa Mohammed in the closing stages of the game and after VAR review, Egypt were awarded a penalty.
Salah stepped up and scored for Egypt to draw them level.
Equatorial Guinea frustrated Nigeria with a 1-1 stalemate on Sunday afternoon after both sides kicked off their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Group A matches at Ebimpe’s Alassane Ouattara Olympic Stadium.
A composed finish by Ivan Salvador in the 36th minute saw Equatorial Guinea shock the Super Eagles with the lead.
The celebrations were short-lived as Nigerian hitman, Victor Osimhen levelled matters with a difficult header that found its way into an empty net to salvage a point for the Nigerians.
With the crowd behind them, Nigeria went in search of the second and were almost rewarded in the 45th minute when Moses Simon’s well struck effort came off the upright to the relief of Equatorial Guinea.
Coming in the second half, both sides hardly troubled each other’s goals, with both set of defenders doing well to remain disciplined.
Up next for Nigeria is a clash that all of Africa will be waiting for with bated breath as they take on tournament hosts, Cote d’Ivoire who opened their campaign with a clinical 2-0 win over Guinea-Bissau on Saturday evening.
Equatorial Guinea on the other hand will be encouraged by the point when they face a wounded Guinea-Bissau.
The results sees Group A being led by Cote d’Ivoire while Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria are a point above Guinea-Bissau.
