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Mohamed Salah’s Late Penalty Rescues Egypt in AFCON Opener; Ghana and Nigeria Face Setbacks
In the opening matches of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, Mohamed Salah’s crucial late penalty saved Egypt from a potential defeat, securing a 2-2 draw against Mozambique. Meanwhile, Victor Osimhen scored for Nigeria, but they were held to a 1-1 draw by Equatorial Guinea.
Ghana faced a surprising 2-1 loss to Cape Verde in Abidjan. The drama unfolded at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, where Egypt needed a Salah penalty in injury time to secure the draw, denying Mozambique their historic first AFCON win.
Despite Mohamed giving Egypt an early lead, Mozambique equalized with a Witiness Quembo header, and Clesio Bauque’s goal turned the tide. Salah’s late heroics salvaged a draw for Egypt, but it was not a convincing start to their campaign.
Ghana, a seven-time African champion, suffered a shocking loss to Cape Verde, with Garry Rodrigues scoring the winner in injury time. Alexander Djiku’s goal had initially leveled the score for Ghana.
In the Nigeria vs. Equatorial Guinea match, Osimhen’s header canceled out Iban Edu’s early goal, resulting in a 1-1 draw. Nigeria’s coach, Jose Peseiro, expressed disappointment with the result, highlighting missed scoring opportunities.
The tournament also witnessed a nearly empty stadium during the Nigeria vs. Equatorial Guinea game, raising concerns for organizers. With Egypt and Ghana set to face off in their next match, the competition intensifies, and the outcomes of these crucial encounters could shape the teams’ paths in the 2023 AFCON.
