AFCON 2023 Reports: Egypt secured qualification from the Africa Cup of Nations group Stages For The Fourth Consecutive Time, Despite Conceding a Stoppage-time Equaliser Against Cape Verde in a Dramatic 2-2 Draw! As Ghana Looks Set To Exit AFCON Yet Again In Two Consecutive Tournament.
Egypt needed a win to guarantee their place in the knockout stages of the AFCON via second place -but they would have to do so without their injured talisman Mohamed Salah, and found themselves facing a confident Cape Verde side with an unexpected 100% win record so far in the tournament.
Having failed to win their first two group games at AFCON for the first time since 1992, Egypt knew they needed a quick start to settle any nerves, and almost got exactly that when Mohamed latched on to Zizo’s cross to power a header over the bar from close range.
On the other hand Cape Verde started at a lacklustre motion, playing just like a team that had already secured top spot without intent and had their Goalkeeper Vozinha to thank for not being behind 20 minutes into the game. As the veteran keeper denied Omar Marmoush from Iong range.
He likewise thwarted Mohamed on the rebound, and that reaped dividends, as Cape Verde finally produced a sucker punch of a goal in first half stoppage time. After barely having a sight of Egypt’s final third, Benchimol found enough space in the area to swivel and fire the ball into the bottom corner to score his first goal of the tournament right on the stroke of HT.
Just as Egyptian fans had given up hope, Mohamed produced a moment of magic in stoppage time to control Trézéguet’s through ball and dink the onrushing Vozinha to make it 2-1 -albeit after a nervy VAR check.
But there was more drama to come by as Bryan Teixeira pounced on a Mohamed El Shenawy mistake to draw the game level in the ninth minute of stoppage time. To the relief of the Egyptian fans, this late equaliser didn’t stop the Pharaohs from qualifying in second place following Ghana’s stalemate with Mozambique in a 2-2 thriller in the other Group B showdown.
Elsewhere, Ghana threw away a two-goal lead in stoppage time as Mozambique came from behind to secure a dramatic draw in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The result sees the Black Stars finish third in Group B, pipping the Mambas on GD, although their two-point haul may not be enough for progression.
Andre Ayew had scored two penalties early on to boost the chances of making the knockout phase, however things went AWOL late in the match as Mozambique pulled a surprise comeback.
It was a defining moment for Mozambique in the tournament as their 12-year hiatus in the competition looks likely to continue but luckily they had one of their own as they netted what they thought was a mere consolation late on when A. Ayew handled the ball in the box, allowing Geny Cata mo to convert from the spot.
Remarkably, Ghana’s fate was then put out of their hands as Reinildo equalised in stoppage time with a well-timed header. With Egypt managing to secure an equally dramatic point in the group’s other tie, Ghana look likely to exit at the group stages for the second successive tournament on two points.
