AFCON 2023: Group B night of draws as Ghana vs Mozambique/Egypt vs Cape Verde ends in stalemate

Posted : 23 January 2024

The last fixtures of the Group B matches in the ongoing African Cup of Nations (AFCON) all ended in a 2-2 draw on a dramatic Monday night.

The unfortunate Black Stars of Ghana were the worst hit as they were held by the Mambas of Mozambique, who showed no respect to the West African giants in a testy match. While the Black Stars thought it was a victory (Uhuru), they were stunned by one of the greatest comebacks of all time in AFCON. The Mambas of Mozambique responded in quick succession.

The Black Stars of Ghana and the Mambas of Mozambique, of note, also produced one of the highest penalties during the duration of the game, as the referee awarded four penalties, but only three of the spot kicks were converted.

Jordan Ayew of the Black Stars scored both goals for Ghana through penalties, first in the 15th minute and the second one controversially in the 70th minute.

The Mambas, however, did not accept defeat easily. They protested the referee's decision and even threatened to walk out in a scenario that led the Libyan referee, Mutaz Ibrahim, who did not consult VAR for the second penalty to Ghana, to flash yellow cards to the captain of the side, Maxer, and his teammate Mandava.

Throughout the game, the Mambas of Mozambique ensured that they would not go down alone in the Group B encounter. They dragged the Black Stars along, and the tiny African country got their first goal in the one minute of added extra time when the referee adjudged that Black Stars Captain Dede Ayew had handled the ball in his box, subsequently awarding a penalty converted by the Mambas captain Geney Catamo.

While Black Stars players were frustrated, a corner kick came for Mozambique, and an inswinger found Athletico Madrid player Reinildo Mandava, who scored a neat goal quickly approved by the referee and unchallenged by VAR.

The game ended 2-2, sending the Black Stars of Ghana crashing to their knees.

In the second match of the day, Cape Verde, aiming to maintain their 100 percent record, opened the scoring against the seven-time AFCON winners, the Pharaohs of Egypt.

Mohamed Abdelmonem

Cape Verde's Mandas provided an assist to Gilson Tavares of Benfica in Portugal, who scored in the 45+1 minute.

The Pharaohs of Egypt then equalized through Mahmoud Hassan, who struck in the 50th minute. He was also instrumental in the second goal of Egypt, finding Mostafa Mohammed, who scored in the 90+3 minute, only for Bryan Silva Teixeira Jnr to equalize in the 90+9 minute.

At the end of the Group B encounter, Cape Verde surprisingly topped the Group B chart with 7 points, scoring 7 goals and conceding 3 goals with a +4 goal difference. Egypt climbed to the 2nd position with 3 points, scoring 6 goals and conceding 6 goals. Ghana earned only 2 points from two draws, scoring 5 goals and conceding 6 goals with a -1 deficit, while Mozambique also got 2 points, scoring 4 goals and conceding 7 goals with a -3 goal deficit.

The final standings mean Cape Verde and Egypt advance, while both Ghana and Mozambique go home.

Egypt, ranked 33rd in the world, and Cape Verde, ranked 73rd, have no record of a previous encounter.

AFCON 2023: Group B night of draws as Ghana vs Mozambique/Egypt vs Cape Verde ends in stalemate

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