A Mohammed Kudus heroics not enough, as Ghana failed to secure a win in their African Nations Cup clash with Egypt in a tensed 2:2 draw in Cote d’Ivoire.
Goals from Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed cancelled out Mohammed Kudus’s brace and both sides remain winless in the competition after two group games.
With Egypt facing injury concerns as Mohamed Salah limp off just before the break.
Egypt lost Mohamed Salah to injury but twice fought back to draw 2-2 with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Thursday’s Group B game at Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny came into life on the stroke of half-time when, just 53 seconds after Egypt’s star man Salah had limped off with an apparent hamstring issue, the seven-time AFCON champions fell behind from a stunning Mohamed Kudus’ opener.
On the other hand, Inaki Williams’ dreadful pass allowed the excellent Omar Marmoush to restore parity in the 69th minute, only for Kudus to double his tally less than 2 minutes later as the West Ham forward fired in his second and Ghana took the lead.
All the same that lead was only for few minutes with Mostafa Mohamed tucking home from Trezeguet’s cutback to haul Egypt level once more, though the Pharaohs got lucky when Iddrisu Baba headed wide of a gaping goal in stoppage time in what could have given Ghana the maximum 3 point.
Salah’s injury came in innocuous fashion – Egypt’s captain dropping to the turf and ripping off his armband in the 45th minute, immediately signalling that he needed to go off and holding his left hamstring.
Egypt’s frustration was swiftly compounded as Kudus found a way through three defenders before arrowing in a wonderful left-footed finish from the edge of the box.
Yet a prolonged spell of Egypt pressure, in which the Pharaohs had a goal disallowed for offside, finally told when Williams inadvertently played in Marmoush, who coolly rounded Richard Ofori before slotting in.
That goal sparked a chaotic five-minute spell. First, Kudus’ low effort fooled Mohamed El Shenawy after taking a slight deflection, only for Egypt to capitalise on more shambolic Ghana defending as Trezeguet got to the line and supplied Mohamed with a simple finish.
Ofori’s save from Emam Ashour’s attempt paved the way for one final Ghana push, and Baba should have won it when he latched onto an inswinging corner, only to put his header wide, with the result leaving the Black Stars on a point and Egypt on two heading.
LIVERPOOL will be concerned with SALAH’S injury as well as Egypt and both Jurgen Klopp and Rui Vitoria will be hoping and praying it is nothing too serious. Egypt need their talisman back for the last group game, and Liverpool surely cannot afford to lose their star player for a prolonged period if they are to hold off their title rivals in the Premier Leaguel
Ghana Remain Winless in Six AFCON games and will be hoping all goes well in their final group game against Mozambique on the 22nd of January whilst hoping that Egypt can do them a huge Favour by beating Cape Verde who currently top the group with 3 points.
