Premiere full of surprises at Africa Cup of Nations! Because after host Ivory Coast beat Guinea-Bissau 2-0 on Saturday, they didn’t beat a single favorite today!
Nigeria and Egypt opened with draws against Equatorial Guinea and Mozambique, respectively, while Cape Verde got a huge win, beating Ghana 2-1 and setting the stage for qualification from the premier.
Ghana-Cape Verde 1-2
Cape Verde forced Ghana to lose at the start, winning 2-1 and making an ideal debut. Monteiro scored in the 17th minute as Cape Verde shocked their opponents, who tried to fight back and found the equalizer through Asimerou in the 36th minute, but the goal was eventually disallowed by VAR for offside.
Ghana took control of the field, pressed and equalized in the 56th minute, with Dzikou converting Ayou’s assist to make it 1-1. The game started all over again and became a rodeo. Pencil went for the reversal but failed, while Bebe failed to give the lead back to the typical visitors. With Cape Verde having two big phases to get the three points, but Giovane and Garry RodrÃguez did not deface her with a goal.
Despite this, Pedro Leitao Brito’s team had not said its last word and with golden scorer the former winger of PAOK and Olympiakos, Gary Rodriguez, who in the 93’… knew Ghana for the final 2-1.
GOAL | Ghana 1-2 Cape Verde | Garry Rodrigues
— JONERO?>? (@JONERO10) January 14, 2024
Egypt-Mozambique 2-2
The result of the day went to Mozambique, but in the end it was tied 2-2 with Egypt. A valuable point that certainly does not spoil Mozambique, who were considered underdogs but put the brakes on Salah’s company.
It was the Liverpool ace who made Egypt 1-0 in the 2nd minute, converted by Mostafa Mohamed, with the score remaining level at the break despite having 10 more finals!
The “Pharaohs” relaxed in the replay and paid for it, conceding two goals in three minutes. First, in the 55th minute, Viti equalized the score, while in the 58th minute, Clesio Bauke, with the former Panaitolikos player, made it 2-1. Egypt came out in front massively afterwards, pressed hard and saved the game, eventually equalizing in the 8th minute of stoppage time with Salah’s penalty to make it 2-2.
Nigeria-Equatorial Guinea 1-1
A loss from the very first game for Nigeria, who looked unprepared and missed the chance to start with three points, drawing 1-1 with Equatorial Guinea. Zaidoo threatened in the 11th minute for Nigeria, but it was Guinea who found the net first through Salvador in the 36th minute. However, the lead lasted just two minutes, with Luqman serving and Osimen scoring for 1-1.
Jose Peseiro’s team was better but misguided in the second half, having two big phases to overturn the score and get the win, but Zaidou and Aina did not convert them into goals.
Source: Sport Fm
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