Tough tourney as Ghana loss, Nigeria draw, Egypt saved by late penalty
Equatorial Guinea frustrated Nigeria with a 1-1 stalemate on Sunday afternoon after both sides kicked off their 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 see Group A being led by Cote d’Ivoire while Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria are a point above Guinea-Bissau.
Late Salah penalty rescues Egypt
Egypt captain, 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.
Egypt will play Ghana on Thursday January 18 at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium.
Cape Verde stun Ghana
Garry Rodrigues scored late to hand Cape Verde all three points against the Black Stars of Ghana in their first game of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
Cape Verde took a deserved lead in the 17th minutes through Jamiro Monteiro. The San Jose Earthquakes midfielder was in the penalty box to tap home from a loose ball from goalkeeper, Richard Ofori.
Ghana’s midfielder, Majeed Ashimeru had what could have been an equalizer disallowed after VAR checks by referee Jean Jacques Ndola Ngambo.
Alexander Djiku got the equalizer for Ghana, 11 minutes into the second half. The defender headed in from a Jordan Ayew ball to draw Ghana level.
After scoring, Djiku cleared his lines when a Cape Verde effort beat Richard Ofori.
With just 6 minutes to end the game, substitute, Garry Rodrigues restored Cape Verde’s lead after e capitalized on a defensive blunder from the Ghanaian defense to tap into an empty net.
Cape Verde are now top of Group D with three points.
Ghana will play Egypt next Thursday, 18 January at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny.
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